AFP, BEIJING: Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday at the opening of the annual session of parliament that China would step up efforts to boost military strength and build up its arsenal of high-tech weaponry.
“Stepping up efforts to modernize our national defense and armed forces is an important guarantee for safeguarding national security and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects,” Wen said in his annual address to the nation.
“We will strengthen the building of our armed forces,” he told some 5,000 delegates and political advisors to China's annual session of the National People's Congress.
Informed legislators told AFP military spending this year would rise 11.6 percent over 2003, marking a return to double-digit growth in defense expenditures.
The figure was expected to be announced Saturday in Finance Minister Jin Renqing's budget report.
China increased its stated military budget by 9.6 percent in 2003, following a 17.6 percent rise in defense spending in 2002 and a 17.7 percent increase in 2001.
It was not immediately clear if the increase would be on top of what was actually spent on defense in 2003, or on the 2003 budgeted figure of 185.3 billion yuan (22.37 billion dollars).
Despite all the accounting pronouncements, China's real military spending remains shrouded in secrecy, with Western analysts routinely estimating a real military budget ranging from between two and three times the stated figure.
“As part of our strategy of using science and technology to build strong armed forces, we will focus on developing new and high technology weaponry and equipment, foster a new type of highly competent military personnel and promote modernization of our armed forces,” Wen said in his speech.
He said a 200,000 troop reduction from the around 2.5 million strong People's Liberation Army would be completed by 2005.
China's military build-up has become increasingly worrisome to its neighbors, with Japan actively seeking to build a ballistic missile defense that is partially seen as a response to Beijing's increasingly capable ballistic missile force.
The United States has also routinely expressed concern over a missile build-up on China's southeastern coast facing Taiwan, which could be used as a first-strike force in the eventual reunification of the disputed island territory.
However, Wen sought to dispel such concerns, while also taking a swipe at the growing unilateralism of the United States, the world's sole superpower.
“We will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, unswervingly pursue an independent policy of peace…, and strive to further improve international and neighboring environments,” Wen said.
“We will oppose hegemonism, power politics and terrorism in all manifestations,” he said, and “continue to work for a new international political and economic order that is fair and equitable.”
