Chinese Military Develops....

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Chinese Military Budget Jumps 14%

China has said it will increase its military spending by 14.7% this year to 283.8bn yuan ($35.3bn; £20bn).

The increases have caused concern for neighbours Japan and Taiwan.

China is committed to a path of peaceful development

Turns out its the run-up to World War Two again. First, we start with rearmament. I'd hate to be the Chinese Czechslovakia right now.

[Kanaric]

They are in the 25th year of a 50 year plan. China has the ability and will to be successful as well and stay the course on their plans for the future.

People post often about China on this board, thats all I should need to say by now.

[Shaun]

I dont see why there is really any problem about this, China has the same right to have an army as the USA does, besides, they still dont spend half as much as the USA does. I severly doubt that China will ever invade its neighbours, because that wood start WW3.

[hellheaven1987]

First, we must know China has the biggest size of army in the world... much bigger than US army, which is second in the world.

Second, every "good" generals know a successful campaign is not depent on sheer number of men, tank or jet fighters. It is the movement, tactic and strategy that make the winning side achieves success.

Third, Chinese couldn't win US now or in future mainly because the culture and attitude, as we don't like to fight and we don't really respect soldier actually. We are not good in strategy and tactic too. So we need to build a longest wall in the world to protect ourselves from barbarian (same as Roman, built a Hadrian Wall to prevent barbarian invasion, such a shame for it...).

Fourth, continue from Third point, but I'm sorry only the normal people think that way, the top officers may not think that way... and only very few Chinese generals understand the weakness of Chinese army...

Fifth, continue from Fouth point. So, a WWIII may start by Chinese... if China can't solve its problem in this 10 years... (a lot of population is jobless, not enough food, the big gap between poor and rich... and so on).

Last, but another bad news is US also starts to aware the danger, so they start to arm Japan and hope there is a balance... So guys, we are actually living in a political sutiation same as 1890s - 1914s.

[krazykarl]

The article I read about this yesterday ( I cant find it now) said that the budget increases were to offset the rise in fuel costs and pay increases, aswell as to modernize parts of the military. $35 billion is still a meer shadow of $1 Trillion that the US spends on its military. I am not worried, Chinas' economy is booming right now with anual growth around the 10% area, it should then make sense that thier military spending reflects the relitive weath levels of the government.

[Kanaric]

Last, but another bad news is US also starts to aware the danger, so they start to arm Japan and hope there is a balance... So guys, we are actually living in a political sutiation same as 1890s - 1914s.

That is almost exactly as I think.

IDK what China's plan is, all you know is that they have one. It may be just to be a superpower, and have their own spheres of influence like Russia during the cold war or it may not. I dont think they will start WW3, i just think they want to seriously compete with the US on a global scale. They can do it successfully as well, unlike Russia they have the money required to do it.

[RusskiSoldat]

So guys, we are actually living in a political sutiation same as 1890s - 1914s.

Well, you are utterly wrong.
How many empire building nations do we have now?
How many colonies?
How many conflicts based on such?
Is China in a state of civil war?
Is Europe fiercely competing amongst itself?
And most importantly, do we think that a war between two major natiosn would be a normal thing?
Of course not, if such a war happens this day and age I'm more likely to die of shock than fighting.

[Sétanta]

China needs to start spending a lot more than this if they want to compete militarily with the United States. And when they start spending more...well, it didn't work out so well for the USSR and it won't for China either.

Even if they focus on developing a powerful economy they can't compete with the US simply because Communism is too restrictive to allow them to have an economy that can even come close to Americas

[Last Roman]

Even if they focus on developing a powerful economy they can't compete with the US simply because Communism is too restrictive to allow them to have an economy that can even come close to Americas

do you really think that China is "communist"? China has a capitalist(ic) economy with a communist government.

[hellheaven1987]

Well, you are utterly wrong.
How many empire building nations do we have now?
How many colonies?
How many conflicts based on such?
Is China in a state of civil war?
Is Europe fiercely competing amongst itself?
And most importantly, do we think that a war between two major natiosn would be a normal thing?
Of course not, if such a war happens this day and age I'm more likely to die of shock than fighting.

Well, there is no "formal" empire in the world ready... but unfortunately, we have big power and better communication system... which provide us a faster movement if a war is happened...

Second, we still have a lot of "small wars", just like what happened between Napolean War and WWI. I believe I don't need to point out all of them right?

Third, China doesn't go into civil war, but most Muslim states are.

Fourth, Europe countries don't go to hostile one another because world is smaller by communication and transport. It becomes the game for big countries only. (compare with France and Germany to US and Russia, you would find out how small they are.)

And last, don't bluff, if there is really a big war between two major countries, thounsands of young men would join by volunteer... because most people today already forget the cruelty of war!

[Lee1026]

They are already close: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...es_by_GDP_(PPP)
They already have about 70% of the US GDP. At the rate they are growing, it would not take too long for them to catch up.

[Sétanta]

GDP product doesn't measure growth, and besides the Soviet Union had a GDP similar to the United States. Our economy just plain old beat the hell out of theirs. And USA's economy+EU's Economy completely dominates China.

[the_mango55]

They are already close: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...es_by_GDP_(PPP)
They already have about 70% of the US GDP. At the rate they are growing, it would not take too long for them to catch up.

That's based on purchasing power parity, not "real" money. Actually their GDP is only about 15% of ours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._%28nominal%29

[Lee1026]

Oh, the USSR never came close to touching the GDP of the USA. Russia currently have the GDP of LA. Even if the USSR was 10 times more powerful, they are still not at California level yet.

P.S. I am well aware that GDP don't measure growth. But they are growing at 10+% a year, which is scary, to say the least.

[Sétanta]

Yes but the USSR could afford to give every soviet citizens health care, food, clothing, jobs...something China is failing miserably.

And remember that Russia's economy nosedived after the breakup of the USSR

[Tigran of Sasoun]

Even though i left i still accasionally visit this site.

Here is what i think about all this.

America is not too good with its accounting. Spending 300 dollars on a screw driver will dry up that 400+ billion dollars they spend a year.

I hope China does the same mistake, but i dont they are.

China has 2 million people in the millitary while America has much less. And many people that join the army seem to have a silly idea that they dont have to fight or didnt think they were gona fight or just run to Canada. In Chinas case, i watch a documentary about the recruitment in china for the military, and let me tell you, they are not having problems with it.

Nukes dont mean s&(t, cause China has it too.

Also you forgot to say that China actaully spends somewere around 100 billion for the millitary but does not declare it as it does not want its neighbours or U.S to pressure it or be afraid.

[BassV2]

because Communism is too restrictive to allow them to have an economy that can even come close to Americas

Rofl. Americans still think that Capitalism is a "democrcy only thing"

[Ó Cathasaigh]

In Chinas case, i watch a documentary about the recruitment in china for the military, and let me tell you, they are not having problems with it.

Seeing of how the Military is the only way to actualy make something of yourself in China, I'm not surprised. While in America, there are thousands of oppertunies, the military isn't appealing.

[Lee1026]

Something that America is also failing miserablely, let us not forget.....

Assuming that Russia fell by a factor of 10, they would still have a GDP in their hayday that resembles the size of California.

[Nationalist_Cause]

China is not to be considered a very big threat to U.S. national security. Their nuclear technology, as well as delivery systems, are YEARS behind that of the United States. They are mainly investing in conventional arms these days which, like most other nations, still lags a generation behind U.S. technology.

For those of you who subscribe to Foreign Affairs you have probably already read this article. Luckily for everyone else that journal has made this article available online. Find it here:
The Rise of U.S. Nuclear Primacy
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/200603...r-primacy.html

I would do a poor job describing the article. Just read it. Its HIGHLY educational on the subject of U.S. - Chinese - Russian nuclear capabilities.

A quick excerpt from the article:

This debate may now seem like ancient history, but it is actually more relevant than ever -- because the age of MAD is nearing an end. Today, for the first time in almost 50 years, the United States stands on the verge of attaining nuclear primacy. It will probably soon be possible for the United States to destroy the long-range nuclear arsenals of Russia or China with a first strike. This dramatic shift in the nuclear balance of power stems from a series of improvements in the United States' nuclear systems, the precipitous decline of Russia's arsenal, and the glacial pace of modernization of China's nuclear forces. Unless Washington's policies change or Moscow and Beijing take steps to increase the size and readiness of their forces, Russia and China -- and the rest of the world -- will live in the shadow of U.S. nuclear primacy for many years to come.