PLA Gets Smaller Spending Rise As Economy Slows

Beijing has announced a 7.5 percent increase in military spending in 2019, lower than last year as the country faces an economic slowdown.

The government will spend 1.19 trillion yuan (HK$1.4 trillion) on defence in 2019, after it increased its outlay by 8.1 percent to 1.11 trillion yuan in 2018, according to a government report presented at the start of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress.

China is the world's second-biggest military spender but remains far behind the United States, which budgeted about six times as much for defence in 2019. Beijing has not posted double-digit increases in spending since 2015.

The lower spending increase comes as the country's economy is slowing down, with the report presented at the NPC setting a growth target of 6.0 to 6.5 percent.

President Xi Jinping, who has vowed to turn the PLA into a world class military by the middle of the century, has repeatedly called on the army to be combat-ready.

The spending plan comes as Beijing steps up its rhetoric against any independence movements in self-ruled Taiwan and continues to assert vast territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

But NPC spokesman Zhang Yesui said China's military spending "doesn't pose a threat to other countries."

"China's limited spending in defence only aims to maintain the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the country," Zhang said at a news conference on Monday.

The Communist Party has focused on catching up to the technology used by armed forces in the United States and western Europe, while cutting troops numbers to around two million soldiers -- still the world's biggest army.

China has built a second aircraft carrier -- its first domestically manufactured one -- and has put it through sea trials in recent months as it prepares to put it into operation.

Beijing is also building new generation destroyer vessels, fighter jets and ballistic missiles, while research is ongoing for the development of electromagnetic railguns and anti-satellite lasers.

Authorities, experts and state media say the PLA needs to improve the pay and living conditions of its troops. (AFP)