The government's proposal on military expenditure has stirred up
divergent reactions, not for the first time.
At home, from among those attending the annual sessions of the
National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference, those from the People's Liberation Army in
particular, we hear calls for a steeper rise in military spending.
The proposed 14.7 percent increment, they say, falls far short of
our military's actual needs.
Overseas, the same old doubts about legitimacy of our
double-digit increase in military expenditure climb to new heights.
There is even the assumption that a stronger Chinese military is a
destabilizing factor.
The authorities were quick to assure their audience that a
militarily stronger China would not go back on its commitment to
peace. Liao Xilong, head of the PLA General Logistics Department,
has made clear where the money would go improving our service
people's living standards, upgrading the military's information
system, and financing personnel training.
Such messages may not suffice to expel the lingering misgivings
about our military. Still, it is important to keep our friends and
critics informed about the pace and purpose of our progress.
The initiative to explain such a move and reiterate our
adherence to self-defence displayed impressive responsiveness to
outside sensitivities. That is what a responsible member of the
international community should do.
While the Chinese take pains to attend to their worries, the
outside world should reciprocate at least with attentive ears,
instead of groundless suspicions and accusations.
Indeed, we do have the largest military in the world
numerically. But that is all. The headcount includes a considerable
portion of non-combat personnel in military units. Even the
military itself has identified redundancy as a drag on its
modernization drive and wants to continue streamlining its
ranks.
The Chinese military may get a prominent slot if countries'
militaries are ranked in the order of the number of items of
hardware in their possession. But make no mistake about it.
Quantity does not mean strength. We have bought and developed some
advanced weapons in recent years. But the majority of weapons and
equipment in service are outdated.
That is why some Western observers say China's military looks
great on paper, but it is in fact the world's largest military
museum. They say the Chinese military is generations behind the
world's strongest militaries in terms of hardware. How did our
poorly equipped troops become their No 1 nightmare overnight?
Overseas scare-mongers have made a very basic mathematic mistake
when they make growth rate an issue. They have neglected the tiny
base of the growth. Even today, after years of double-digit growth,
our annual military expenditure is only a fraction of many Western
countries. Why should China be singled out?
The double-digit increase did not take place until very recent
years when tension escalated across the Taiwan Straits. As the
leadership of Taiwan goes mad and provocatively edges towards
splitting the island from the country, the mainland is being
pressed to get serious about the least-desired scenario of armed
conflict. After all, the country has a legitimate right to
safeguard its territorial integrity.
(China Daily March 9, 2006)
