world

China hikes military spending to win local wars: Wen

47 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2012 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

47 Comments
Login to comment

China must increase military spending to win 'local wars' with neighbors: Wen

Translation: "We need to refocus the energy and gaze of our youth away from our own internal, national failings and misdirect them to manufactured problems abroad thus pulling a fast one via the convenient mantel of patriotism.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Well... predictable. Japan, are you still eager to toss out your US allies?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

China can obtain respectful relations with neighbors and spend the money on helping the 15% of chinese who live in extreme poverty.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Scary... Wen is now stating that growth will drop to 7.5% - yet economists have stated in the past that below 8%, the Chinese economy will be difficult to sustain. With a GDP below 8%, it will be very difficult to find jobs for young people in China (as McKinsey economist David Li noted: http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Is_China_recession_proof_2366)

Many economists in China have said the same thing & 8% is an enormously high GDP for any economy to sustain for a prolonged time period. The problem with China is that, with a population with too many males, the only option to prevent internal rebellion is to start a war. So IMO, China may be building up its military in order to give its angry, young, unemployed male population something (or someone) to vent their anger upon in the not so distant future. I think that, as a result of these unrealistic growth expectations that still exist in China and the resulting lack of employment, social unrest will start to take place which will leave the govt in China no option but to begin an external conflict in order to prevent an internal revolution. That may explain why Japan is developing weapons with Great Britain and bolstering its own defeneces.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I think wen forgot the war which is most likely to happen & thats against its own people!!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

**Insert "darth vador's ominous entry music"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I live in the Philippines, and this is mildly unsettling to me. If there's one thing people here in Southeast Asia know, it's that China likes to treat the region as its' bitch.

China: "This is a holdup, give us Spratly Islands!"

Philippines: "No!"

China rattles its saber "How about now?"

Philippines: "Okay, take whatever you want, but please don't hurt us!"

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Very true GW. I think China is going to see a lot of mini civil wars on its own turf.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

China is not to be trusted. Still has a very paranoid and sensitive approach to external relations.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

should i stockup on Canned foods?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

to Jared Norman

China can obtain respectful relations with neighbors and spend the money on helping the 15% of chinese who live in extreme poverty.

A lot of US citizen living in poverty…. But they have huge military system What about respect to the neighbors ?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

These dudes like Wen say their army is for foreigners, but it's really to keep the people in check, so they don't revolt, as they know they are teetering close to the brink.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

tkoind2Mar. 05, 2012 - 02:19PM JST Well... predictable. Japan, are you still eager to toss out your US allies?

Japan isn't. Okinawa prefecture is Try not to get them confused. .

1 ( +1 / -0 )

hot_dog_dynastyMar. 06, 2012 - 02:13AM JST "If Japan tossed Article 9 and went all out on defense you'd be the first one crying about Japan going back to Imperialism."

You don't read minds, so give it up.

No but I've proven how silly your "hide behind the mother's skirt" comment was.

I don't have a problem with the Self Defense Force so long as they stay within Japan's territory. I would like to see all >standing militaries disappear, but I won't complain about the SDF until an SDF is all anyone has.

The world wouldn't have a problem with the Chinese PLA if IT stayed within Chinese territory. Of course, China's policy is that everything is Chinese territory, the root cause of all the friction with it;s neighbors.

I am troubled by your "all out on defense" remark though. Its fine if they work to have a counter to China's military >increases, but beyond that and you get an arms race. I don't want an arms race.

There is only one country in Asia that is causing an Arms race. Right now and for the past 15 years; China.

What I want is for Japan to give China her rocks back and for Japan to admit her ugly past.

The Rocks were never China's to give back. And the "ugly past" is already admitted in it's textbooks. To the extent that you'd be satisfied? Probably not cause that;s impossible to achieve.

And if looking weak worries you, they should declare that money cannot heal the wounds and today's Japan is not >responsible and not pay any money, but swear that future generations will recognize the shame of the imperial >period.

When China has a peace constutution that makes the use of war or military force illegal in resiolving diplomatic disputes, as Japan doesm then you would be qualified to talk. Instead, as this aticle makes clear, Chins is preparing for "local wars" and in disputes with all of it's neighbors. Japan has not been a threat tyo anyone for 70 years. China is a threat to everyone today. That is the "action that needs to be fixed":

1 ( +1 / -0 )

To win wars inside their own borders??

0 ( +2 / -2 )

More hot air from China.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What a waste of money and this action forces other countries to waste even more money. These powerful people who control military budgets (for their own ulterior motives) are robbing their own citizens of wealth which could be used much more fruitfully on enhancing living conditions.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

m5c32: spot on, you've got it exactly right!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It seems that Wen can't control its military power any longer. Wen is actually not a top leader of all military but China always has a military top leader from politics. China would make local war whenever top commander decided.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China can obtain respectful relations with neighbors and spend the money on helping the 15% of chinese who live in extreme poverty.

i guess you could say the same about america and the UK. Or most countries come to that.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Wen Jiabao…Japan, the west…remember when you were a little boy and we talked about the Dragon Gate? Has the current become that strong? Have the archers become such a deterrent as to lead you and advisors of the party to spew such provoking words of rhetoric to our world? Is this how senior officials of all governments frighten their people in order to achieve approval by fear mongering and thus stimulating public or party interest for or in negative response to interest and quest? Loshers, all of you, hand me my bow….it is hidden in the wood pile. The Captain

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China’s international relations/rhetoric, and resulting economic boom that many countries fed in the quest of their own financial gain over the last few decades; and it’s sudden need to expand militarily even if it offends:

''Before the army’s watering hole has been reached, the commander does not speak of thirst; before the fires have food on them, the commander does not speak of hunger…..(Second century B.C. tomb; Lini, Shantung Province/Yin Ch'ueh-Shan….New additions to the original Sun-Tzu wooden slates deciphered at dig on Silver Sparrow Mountain).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The trouble is : China is so big ,so powerful today that anycountry sits next to it can easily be translated as "local".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How dare any large, powerful country boost its military to protect its economic interests! That would be just like _____!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Japan, are you still eager to toss out your US allies?

As a taxpayer in Japan, YES! If Japan could not hide behind the U.S. military like a child behind his mother's skirt, Japan might have found a reasonable settlement for the disputes and we might not be talking about Chinese military build ups.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I so enjoy the tongue-in-cheek comments of j4p4nFTW. That being said, I think his comments in this instance are not very far off. When was the last time Japan was seriously threatened by one of its neighbors? 1281? If China is going to be making noises like this, I think Japan has got to show it has its own regional diplomatic/military policy, if only to show those who make threats that they'd better think twice before acting on their boasts.

And by the way, exactly how many military/diplomatic alliances does Japan have? Seems to me the country has exactly one (and we all know who that one is.) The common-sense thing to do would be for Japan to start making friends, and fast, with similarly threatened countries. I recommend South Korea for starters, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Wouldn't such a diplomatic triumph make Beijing's head spin! And if you could somehow pull Taiwan into a regional alliance, that would definitely make the dragon pause ...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Watch ! If a major quake incapacitates Tokyo that's when china will move on Japan to take over disputed areas plus more !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NewsmanMar. 05, 2012 - 08:40PM JST I so enjoy the tongue-in-cheek comments of j4p4nFTW. That being said, I think his comments in this instance are >not very far off. When was the last time Japan was seriously threatened by one of its neighbors? 1281?

No, 1904. Germany and Britain suggested a Russian takeover of thge Korean Penninula would be a direct threat to Japan. The Russo-Japanese war, Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910 and ultimately the long engagement of the Japanese military in Manchuria all stemmed from this threat.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hot_dog_dynastyMar. 05, 2012 - 08:16PM JST "Japan, are you still eager to toss out your US allies?" As a taxpayer in Japan, YES! If Japan could not hide behind the U.S. military like a child behind his mother's skirt, >Japan might have found a reasonable settlement for the disputes and we might not be talking about Chinese >military build ups.

Hiding behind a skirt? If Japan tossed Article 9 and went all out on defense you'd be the first one crying about Japan going back to Imperialism.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a waste of money and this action forces other countries to waste even more money. These powerful people who control military budgets (for their own ulterior motives) are robbing their own citizens of wealth which could be used much more fruitfully on enhancing living conditions.>

True, but this is what Reagan did with great success to the Soviet Union. Worthwhile? Not for me to judge.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"If Japan tossed Article 9 and went all out on defense you'd be the first one crying about Japan going back to Imperialism."

Japan is to go all out with its geriatric population and enormous expenditures for the nuclear fiasco? If Japan tossed out Article 9 the best it could muster would be wheelchair brigades from retirement homes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We will enhance the armed forces’ capacity to accomplish a wide range of military tasks, the most important of which is to win local wars under information age conditions,”

Hehe, by information age conditions he means currency wars.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The only "local war" they could fight without it flaring into a regional conflagration (aside from internal, as others have mentioned) would be with Tajikistan. Seems like Wen is speaking for domestic consumption: the CCP is flailing in its bid to control events within its own borders. Scary indeed.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

man, everyone should know by now it is only a matter of time before WW3. Just face it and be prepared.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

“We will vigorously carry out military training under information-age conditions,” he told the 3,000 delegates.

Yeah manipulte the currency, and hack thy neighbour.

But China can and will be dangerous once they get their combined might together and aim it anyone who doesnt agree with it's agressive policys.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

local wars? u keep crossing the border into india. wait till the indians get serious at the border. ur nukes are too far away india has it right there.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan can defeat either the Chinese Air force or Navy. Their ships are obsolete ex Soviet garbage or based on it. The Americans have used better ships as targets or scrapped them. Corruption will eat away at this extra money. Their planes are just a joke. Their Army while large will not be found to be useful.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If Japan tossed Article 9 and went all out on defense you'd be the first one crying about Japan going back to Imperialism.

You don't read minds, so give it up. I don't have a problem with the Self Defense Force so long as they stay within Japan's territory. I would like to see all standing militaries disappear, but I won't complain about the SDF until an SDF is all anyone has.

I am troubled by your "all out on defense" remark though. Its fine if they work to have a counter to China's military increases, but beyond that and you get an arms race. I don't want an arms race. What I want is for Japan to give China her rocks back and for Japan to admit her ugly past. And if looking weak worries you, they should declare that money cannot heal the wounds and today's Japan is not responsible and not pay any money, but swear that future generations will recognize the shame of the imperial period.

And while I don't declare that will fix everything, I do declare that until such actions are taken, nothing can be fixed.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

to win 'local wars' with neighbors: Wen

Wen? More like "WHEN"

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@issa1 Ah excuse me, (taps issa1 on the shoulder). Dude, China is holding a full house, and you got two pair. You're going to lose. I don't think they're bluffing and you'd better not go "ALL IN". As your ally, I recommend you fold that madness you are talking.

Focus on your recovery.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

With a belligerent China threatening our very existence, this is why Japan must to start build weapons and military equipment as quickly as possible. We must prepare for the greatest battle in our history.

It would be a short war. This also should be a wake up call to all those discussing about removal of US bases from Japan. Currently the only thing stopping China from proceeding with it's expansionism is the presence of the US military.

China will continue to tweak the nose of Japan but that is about it for NOW.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Poor chinese. They do not know how much are dependent on Japanese technology and how are so arrogant and so stupid.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Oh, poor thing, I pity them; I have so much fun when I read news like this.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Seriously, Japan should fear the economic power of china.

China solely manufactures toy missiles

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I've been warning people about this for years. China does not respect international laws. People bad mouth Japan over the Sengaku islands, over Nanjing, etc. but just wait and see when China flexes its military might. It will devastate and lay claim to most of S.E. Asia and then defend itself by stating that these areas were OWNED by China in the past and they have every right to annex them back into the Chinese empire. China is now building up their military and soon will expand beyond the capability of the U.S.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I'm laughing my ass off because that was the joke of the day and this so funny.

C'mon, launch these missiles toys about japan and can expect a bloody response from Japan.

This is just a annoying bluff !

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

With a belligerent China threatening our very existence, this is why Japan must to start build weapons and military equipment as quickly as possible. We must prepare for the greatest battle in our history.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites