The Defense Budget of the People's Republic of China
Abstract
As Asia looms larger in Western, and particularly U.S., security calculations, interest in the People's Republic of China (PRC) as a potential Security concern has grown. As China attempts to modernize its forces, is it becoming a "threat" to Western security in the region, and, if so, does it constitute a direct military threat? How successful have the Chinese been in upgrading their armed forces? How capable is China of projecting its forces beyond its borders? In attempting to answer these questions, it would be useful to know where current Chinese strategic and military priorities lay, and whether the PRC is investing enough resources in these priorities to constitute a serious security concern for the West. Since defense budgets are often a critical indicator of national defense priorities and policies, Western interest in Chinese defense spending has also grown considerably. The size of its defense budget, the rate of growth (or decline) in its military expenditures, and what it spends its defense dollars on can reveal much about a country's national security intentions and military plans. Defense budgets are usually an indicator of a country's military modernization priorities, and what future military capabilities it might possess. They can also serve as a gauge of a country's defense commitment and resolve, or its potential to threaten others.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA338621
Entities
People
- Chong-pin Lin
- Richard A. Bitzinger