China has a long peace-loving culture, and unswervingly follows a path of peaceful development. During the past decade, China has entered a new era of development. Its historic achievements in economic and social development have attracted worldwide attention, And it has also made historic achievements in strengthening its national defense.
In face of changes unseen in a century, a strong Chinese military is a staunch force for maintaining world peace and development and an active contributor to addressing global challenges.
China has actively participated in UN peacekeeping missions and international disaster relief, and provided timely humanitarian assistance. For example, its military hospital ship “Peace Ark” has travelled nine times to 43 countries and regions, sailing more than 240,000 nautical miles and providing medical services to more than 230,000 people.
For any major country to achieve modernization, it must develop all aspects of its comprehensive national power including its military capabilities that complements its economic strength. That is necessary to effectively safeguard national security and development interests, and is an inevitable precondition for fulfilling responsibilities in maintaining world peace and stability.
Nevertheless, for a long time, China’s defense spending as a share of GDP has been much lower than the world average.
Compared with military powers such as the U.S., China’s defense spending remains at a low level. In 2020, the U.S. spent 3.7 percent of its GDP on defense, while the world average was 2.6 percent. China’s total defense spending is only slightly more than a quarter of the annual defense spending of the U.S..
Building a strong country requires a strong military that is fundamental to national security. In recent years, the Chinese government has maintained a reasonable and stable growth in defense spending, while maintaining a sustained and healthy economic and social development, with national defense capability and economic strength improving in tandem. The increase in China’s defense spending is necessary, not only in meeting complex security challenges, but also in fulfilling its responsibilities as a major country.
Achieving the goals for PLA’s centenary in 2027 that entails the development of a world-class modern armed force are crucial tasks towards building a modern socialist country in all respects.
In face of the changes unseen in a century, to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is imperative that China gives due priorities to comprehensive national development, with national security as a key component, as it charts out plans for strengthening national defense and armed forces. This is an inevitable requirement for China in building a modern socialist country, and it is also an important guarantee to effectively curb and deter hegemony and maintain world peace and stability.
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