Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) get ready for the military parade to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the army at Zhurihe military training base in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, July 30, 2017. China Daily via REUTERS
VOA: China Boosts Defense Spending, Rattling its Neighbors' Nerves
BEIJING — China on Monday unveiled its largest defense spending increase in three years, setting an 8.1 percent growth target this year, fueling an ambitious military modernization program and making its neighbors nervous.
The 2018 defense budget will be 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion), according to a report issued at the opening of China's annual meeting of parliament.
The defense spending figure is closely watched worldwide for clues to China's strategic intentions as it develops new military capabilities, including stealth fighters, aircraft carriers and anti-satellite missiles.
China will "advance all aspects of military training and war preparedness, and firmly and resolvedly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests," Premier Li Keqiang told the opening session in an address.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 6, 2018
China boosts defense budget in quest for 'world class' military but tells neighbors not to worry -- Washington Post
China defends hike in military spending as proportionate and low -- Reuters
What we know about China’s increased defense spending in 2018 -- Defense News/AP
US Pacific Fleet commander says China's military budget lacking in transparency -- The Japan Times
China Completes Military Staff Reduction by 300,000 Soldiers -- Sputnik
Vladimir Putin: Russia's weapons exports get a boost after being demonstrated in Syria -- Washington Examiner
Putin: Russia’s weapons export in 2017 exceeded $15 billion -- TASS
The Flawed Logic of Russia's New Weapon Systems -- Victor Abramowicz, The Interpreter
Highly Classified Israeli Army Systems Revealed Online -- Haaretz
NATO chief plans military academies for Iraqi forces -- FOX News/AP
Danish defense minister: Deterring Russia on the cyber battlefield -- Claus Hjort Frederiksen, Defense News
Boom or bust? German industry sizes up Euro-defense potential -- Defense News
Stealth features responsible for half of F-35 defects, Lockheed program head states -- Defense News
Fewer planes are ready to fly: Air Force mission-capable rates decline amid pilot crisis -- Air Force Times
US Navy boasts ‘historic first’ shipboard deployment of F-35B to Pacific (PHOTOS, VIDEO) -- RT
Air Force Advances New B-52 Internal Weapons Bay - Expands Mission -- Warrior Maven
Senators seek budget flexibility for Pentagon -- Defense News
Lockheed: Pentagon Negotiators Are Becoming More Unpredictable -- Defense One
Lockheed CEO plays down impact of Trump’s steel tariff -- Defense News
Pentagon dials back nearly $1B cloud services agreement to $65 million -- Inside Defense
The US Army Is Closer to Getting a Deadly New 'Tank' -- National Interest
Military finishes its investigation into the Niger ambush that killed 4 US soldiers -- Washington Examiner
Pentagon says media 'complicit' by posting ISIS ambush video -- Politico
The Pentagon Says Everyone Who Watches Or Just Mentions A Disturbing Video Is Helping ISIS -- Task & Purpose
U.S. Army says mishandled war dogs, will comply with call for reform -- Reuters
Immigration court clears Army wife to stay in US -- Military Times
Here's how the Army turns its military police into detectives -- Business Insider/Army.mil
Where are the female Marines? -- Shawn Snow, Marine Times
Amber's War: Former Army helicopter pilot is on a mission to fight military stereotypes -- Washington Examiner
Expedition led by Microsoft co-founder locates lost WWII carrier -- Navy Times
