China Defends People’s Congress Military Spending and Plans to Reform Government Despite North Korea Warning: US and South Korea Announce New Military Exercises

Ahead of the annual session of the People’s Congress, the Chinese leadership has defended the expected sharp increase in military spending. The defense budget will be presented on Sunday at the start of the plenary session of parliament in Beijing, which will last until March 13. The nearly 3,000 deputies will also agree to a major reform of the government that takes place only every ten years. Head of state and party leader Xi Jinping (69), who had already bundled all power at the party congress in October, is confirmed for an unprecedented third term as president.

Against the background of threats against democratic Taiwan, China’s disputed territorial claims in the East and South China Seas and rivalries with the US, the Merics China Institute in Berlin expects the military budget to increase by more than seven percent.

“Military modernization not a threat to other countries”

Gathering spokesman Wang Chao did not provide figures on Saturday, but said: “Behind the growth in defense spending is not only the need to address complex security challenges, but also the need to assume responsibilities as a great power. to fulfill.” . » At the same time, the spokesman said: “China’s military modernization does not pose a threat to other countries.”

China’s defense budget has always grown faster than total spending in recent years – by 7.1 percent in the previous year. The increase was also usually higher than the growth rate of the economy. However, according to experts, the official military budget only reflects part of the actual expenditure, as much of the expenditure for the People’s Liberation Army is also covered by other budgets.

Economic growth is stalling

The gathering of nearly 3,000 hand-picked delegates in the Great Hall of the People will be opened on Sunday by the current head of government, Li Keqiang, with his final report. The 67-year-old prime minister, who is leaving after two terms in office, is likely to set a growth target of five percent or even slightly more for this year, observers expected. A comparable figure of around 5.5 percent was aimed for last year.

Pressured by the zero-Covid policy of lockdowns, enforced quarantines and mass testing, which was only lifted in December, the second-largest economy only gained three percent. It was the second worst growth rate since 1976 and only slightly better than the 2.2 percent of 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

Focus: Reorganization of the government

The focus of the week-long conference is the formation of the new government. Party leader Xi Jinping will continue to consolidate his power as close associates move into government offices. At the party conference in October, the 69-year-old defied previous age and tenure terms and enshrined his permanent leadership role in the party constitution.

Former Shanghai party leader Li Qiang will be the new prime minister. At the party congress, Xi Jinping’s closest follower had already risen to number two. The new prime minister already worked directly under Xi Jinping in 2007, when he was still party leader of the important province of Zhejiang. The 63-year-old has had a long career, most of which he’s spent on the affluent East Coast. He is said to have economic expertise and a friendly attitude towards private companies.

In Shanghai, Li Qiang campaigned for the interests of the local economy while attracting foreign investment. “He doesn’t talk so much about ideology, but a little more about how things are done,” said Nis Grünberg of the China Institute Merics. This makes Li Qiang relatively well suited for the role of prime minister. Despite his close relationship with Xi Jinping, he is not just a “yes man”.

During the corona pandemic, Li Qiang initially took a less restrictive approach to the virus in Shanghai than in other regions of China. However, because the metropolis failed to control an outbreak in the spring of 2022, the port city went into a strict lockdown for two months. The sometimes chaotic circumstances have clearly benefited Li Qiang.

However, the question is how much influence the new prime minister will have. This role has diminished in importance over the past decade as Xi Jinping himself increasingly dominates government decisions. (saw/sda/dpa)