Chinese military spending increases by 11.2%

China is increasing their military spending by double digits every year. 

China Grows Military  -  Annual double-digit increases continue as Beijing arms itself

• U.S. is sending Marines to Australia for "training".
• In 2011 the U.S. and Vietnam conducted naval exercises off the coast of that nation for "navigation" issues.
• The U.S. is backing the Philippines and Vietnam in their exploration for oil in the South China Sea. 

China has the largest army in the world and atomic weapons.  No one is going to attack them.  But every year like clockwork the Chinese Communist government increases the military budget in double digits.  The 2012 budget show a large 11.2% increase in spending.

China is safe.  So there are three possible reasons for increasing military spending:

1. Generals are largely bureaucrats and like any manager of a government department they want to grow their little empire.
2. Jobs.  Military spending creates jobs in China just like it does in all other nations.
3. And the projecting of Chinese power overseas. 

Any one or a combination could be the reason, but China's neighbors are nervous.

Although the planned figure is less than last year's 12.7% increase, China's military leaders have said they are unhappy with recent moves by the Obama administration to increase the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region reports the UK Guardian.

Only twice since the early 1990s has the increase been less than double digits.

The U.S. is pushing back against China and is backing Vietnam and the Philippines in their search for oil in the South China Sea.

The National People's Congress spokesman Li Zhaoxing said China's defense spending would increase by 11.2% over actual spending last year to hit 670.2bn yuan (£67bn/$106.4bn) in 2012, an increase of about 67bn yuan.

China's official defense spending is the largest in the world after the United States, but actual spending, according to foreign defense experts, may be 50% higher as China excludes outlays for its nuclear missiles and other programs.

The Chinese military armory includes the home-built J-10 jet fighter, new nuclear submarines and modern surface vessels armed with supersonic anti-ship missiles. In 2011 China began testing a new J-20 stealth fighter and launched sea trials of its first aircraft carrier, a refurbished hulk purchased from Ukraine. Cyber-warfare programs are burgeoning.

The South China Sea has become a new potential flashpoint, with Beijing's more powerful navy and an assertive policy to defend contested claims to groups of islands, reefs and atolls. The US has declared its own interest in making sure sea lanes remain open.

Washington has moved to rotate more troops to Australia, shore up alliances with other traditional allies such as Japan and the Philippines and forge new military ties with Vietnam.

(UK Guardian)

Development of China's J-10 stealth fighter is part of its military buildup over the past two decades, a trend that continues as its latest defense budget shows an 11.2% increase.   (Photograph: AP)

Chinese navy destroyers.