Addressing Security Risks and Contributing to Global Security

Addressing Security Risks and Contributing to Global Security

China's defense expenditure is driven by a need to address security risks, fulfill international responsibilities, and contribute to global security, according to a military spokesman. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, representing the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, highlighted the complex security situations China faces and the challenges its military encounters in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wu emphasized that China's limited defense spending is both a response to these risks and a prerequisite for fulfilling its responsibilities as a global power. This spending enables the PLA to provide more public security mechanisms to the world and support the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. He stressed that China's defense budget adheres to the country's legal frameworks and is subject to review and approval by the National People's Congress.

China also participates in the United Nations' military expenditure transparency system, demonstrating openness regarding the scale, structure, and basic uses of its defense budget. Wu added that China follows a coordinated approach between national defense and economic development, maintaining "reasonable and stable growth" in military spending to safeguard sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Compared to major military powers like the United States, China's defense spending remains relatively low in terms of GDP share, fiscal expenditure proportion, per capita allocation, and spending per service member. The proposed defense spending for fiscal 2025 represents a 7.2 percent increase from last year, marking the 10th consecutive year of single-digit growth.

Accelerating the development of new-domain combat forces while upgrading traditional capabilities.

Enhancing early warning and reconnaissance, joint strike operations, battlefield support, and logistics systems.

Strengthening realistic combat training and modernizing the military education system.

Deepening reforms in defense policies and human resources management, as well as improving troops' living and training conditions.

The military will also strive to reach the goals set for the centenary of the PLA in 2027, which are considered "strategic imperatives" in China's efforts to build a modern country in all respects. This includes intensifying troop training, enhancing combat preparedness, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of military training, strengthening new-domain forces with new combat capabilities, boosting military preparedness in various aspects, and enhancing the ability to win informatized and intelligent warfare.