High military budget necessary

As the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, draws near, there has been a growing number of foreign media reports speculating that "a considerable rise" in China's military spending will be announced. Some have suggested a 20 percent rise.

In the context of the United States' accelerated military deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, its strengthening of its military alliances with countries in the region and increased military provocations in the South China Sea, it is only reasonable to make comparison between China's military spending and that of the US if there is a need to compare China's military spending with that of others.

Compared with the 10 large aircraft carrier battle groups the US possesses, China only has an intermediate-sized aircraft carrier that is not part of its fighting capabilities. That means China still has a lot to do to upgrade its military combat system. There is a belief that only after its military budget is at least a half or two-thirds that of the US can China realize an initial strategic balance with the US in the Asia-Pacific.