Even as the world was riveted by Barack Obama’s coronation and first days in office, the Chinese government released its defence white paper for 2008. This is the sixth such policy document from Beijing, the last one having come out in 2006, and an attempt by the Chinese government to assuage the concerns around the world about its rapidly growing military capabilities. And this time the Chinese Ministry of National Defence held a press conference about it. 

That’s because China’s rapid arms buildup has generated apprehension worldwide. Defence spending in 2008 rose by nearly 18 per cent to almost $45 billion, the biggest increase since 2002. China has announced double digit military spending increases nearly every year since the early ’90s and its defence expenditure has increased by an average of about 15 per cent a year from 1990 to 2005. Yet the declared military spending by China only represents about a third of its actual military spending, if equipment purchases are taken into account. The rest of the world is making a concerted bid to engage China on military issues so as to remove the veil of secrecy that surrounds China’s military plans and spending.  

But while China’s white paper makes it clear that moving from infantry to high-tech naval and aerial warfare is a major goal, and it does talk about China’s plans to build new types of submarines, destroyers, frigates and aircrafts, no mention is made of aircraft carriers or of nuclear-powered submarines equipped with ballistic missiles, both expected to be added in the next couple of years. The white paper offers no budgetary specifics, thereby not improving the transparency about Chinese defence spending — the ostensible reason for the papers. This year China will begin construction of two medium-sized aircraft carriers, and with a refurbished 55,000-tonne Soviet built Kuznetsov-class carrier, the Varyag, China will have three operational aircraft carriers in the next 5-6 years. This will have a profound impact on Beijing’s regional power projection. In the first-ever deployment of Chinese warships in distant waters, its navy is working to combat Somalian piracy. China intends to further develop its capabilities to operate effectively in distant waters. 

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