Major General Chen Zhou, NPC deputy and senior researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences, People’s Liberation Army:

The increase in defense spending is compatible with our economic conditions and national defense requirements and is very appropriate and reasonable.

The defense budget will be used to support national defense and military reforms as well as military equipment upgrading. A large proportion will go to improving training and living conditions of local-level troops and cultivating high-caliber military officers. The spending will also be used to support the integration of military and civilian [technologies].

China’s military was traditionally land-based, human-intensive and defensive in nature. It needs to strengthen other aspects of the army in the context of enhancing military reform, the changing security situation at home, and evolving forms of war. The navy, air force, strategic and tactical missile force, and strategic support force should be overhauled by channeling defense spending toward them. Ground forces should be reduced and old and outdated defense equipment phased out.

China has launched structural reform in military leadership and the commanding mechanism and made breakthroughs. It will now reform the scale and structure of military forces, trimming the number of army troops and strengthening the navy, air force and strategic forces.

The aircraft carrier project is a landmark in the navy’s development. Aircraft carrier Liaoning has achieved good results in tests and training. Construction of a second aircraft carrier is progressing smoothly. The number of Chinese aircraft carrier fleets will be determined according to national and military strategies. However, one thing is certain: we will not build 12-aircraft carrier fleets as the United States has. Our defense policy is defensive.

China’s growing global status and influence requires it to shoulder more international responsibilities and obligations, and the military is indispensable for doing this. China has taken part in UN peacekeeping operations since 1990 and has 35,000 peacekeeping soldiers at present. China has also taken part in security cooperation in anti-terrorism work and humanitarian aid. The Chinese military will better discharge its international obligations to make a greater contribution to world peace and development.

As China develops, its overseas interests are growing. More than 100 million Chinese travel abroad every year, and more than 30,000 Chinese companies are scattered all over the world. Security problems are becoming more salient, so protecting overseas interests has become a mission of the military.