India Cuts Back Arms Spending, China Gets Stronger


India and Vietnam are the two countries that are really concerned over China’s military spending and this fear has contributed to these countries’ increased spending on arms. “India has increased military spending by 66 percent since 2002. While both internal conflicts and the long-running conflict with Pakistan remain key issues, India in many ways sees China as a rival for regional power. The long-running border dispute, for example, exacerbates tensions between the two countries. However, Vietnam has increased military spending by 82 percent since 2003 and has made several major naval acquisitions, partly due to tensions with China in the South China Sea. Nevertheless, both India’s and Viet Nam’s military spending fell in real terms in 2011.

Top defence strategists say the report is not just “worrisome” but is a “warning” to decision makers, reports a DNA article. “It’s a warning to decision-makers, especially the ministry of defence, which seems to be taking so much time in inducting new systems, because of fears of another Tehelka or Bofors.” The report quoted retired Air Vice Marshall Kapil Kak as saying.

“China’s increased military spending has allowed both increased salaries and better conditions for troops, as well as extensive modernization of military equipment and technology, as part of a drive to ‘informationatize’ the armed forces. However, Chinese military technology remains one to two generations behind that of the U.S.,” reveals the report.