US doubts transparency of China's defense budget
(Baonghean.vn)- On March 6, the Commander of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, said that China's military budget lacks transparency. This view was given one day after Beijing announced its highest increase in military spending in the past 3 years.
“These investments and commitments need to be disclosed with full transparency,” Admiral Swift told reporters in Tokyo. “China’s intentions are not yet clear,” he said.
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| Commander of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift. Photo: AP |
Earlier on March 5, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced an 8% increase in defense spending this year, pushing forward an ambitious military modernization program and causing concern in Japan and Taiwan.
China has always maintained that its defense spending is transparent and non-threatening, aimed only at upgrading old equipment and protecting legitimate interests.
Chinese state media said the 2018 defense budget is reasonable and low. Accordingly, China's official defense spending is only one-quarter of the US defense spending. However, many analysts and foreign diplomats believe that China is just "polishing" the figures./.
