Wrong Defense Spending is increasing in ASIA and it’s because of China vastly increased Defense Spending and it’s aggressive tone and actions with several of it’s neighbors.

China is spending more cause it’s richer.

Or should they have continued building T-54, MiG-19 and MiG-21 knockoffs to pacify their neighbours?

As for aggressive tone, it’s nothing new.

Most of China’s Neighbors totally disagree!

And they also disagree with each other. Japanese also have disputes with Russians.

As for two additional AEGIS, it does overtly specify to counter North Korea (though they would be useful against China of course).

JMSDF does have quite a few ships that need replacing too – 2 Hatakaze destroyers and 5 Hatsuyuki destroyers, whilst 6 Asagiri destroyers are also starting to approach the third decade of service.

Hence one assumes that at least the two Hatakaze’s will be replaced by AEGIS destroyers as last 4 large destroyers were all AEGIS.

All of Europe is just about pooched economically. And in such an environment, a poor country like Romania will fill the pain the most.

I think we are yet again getting off the subject. We were discussing Chinese Defense Spending and it’s Aggressive Tone over several disputed territories (Islands) with several of it’s neighbors. Which, is leading to an Arms Race in Asia.

The aggressive tone over these islands is nothing new. The Chinese started getting aggressive in the Spratleys since 1945 when they first landed troops there. In 1988 they even fought a minor naval clash against Vietnamese ships. But then the Vietnamese and Filipinos have been aggressive as well for decades.

As for arms race, there does not seem to be any proof of it, except the Philippines who have realised that having virtually no air force and a Navy consisting mainly of non-operational WWII minesweepers (which they hilariously call corvettes) is not exactly the best way of guaranteeing one’s sovereignty (especially over some islands your only claim to is that you want them).

The big difference is now that China is US enemy No 1 (not USSR) and we have the internet and a media who more than ever, thrive on fear mongering. As such all of this is blown out of proportion by the media and various internet sites.

Anyone that doesn’t acknowledge massively improved living standards in China or other Asian countries is either in completely uninformed or a racist in denial.

Chinese living standards up to 1970s were dreadful and in many instances at the same level of poor Latin American countries or even sub Saharan African countries (idiotic policies ala Cultural Revolution or Great Leap Forward had catastrophic impacts.).

China has since then developed immensely and most Chinese don’t live in poverty. China and the other Asian countries are actually a shining light for rest of the world.

As for inequality it exists everywhere. For example Australia is very rich and most people have a good standard of living, yet many Aboriginals live like this:

It’s also a mistake to lump all of the US’s allies in westpac into a unified group, like NATO because such an alliance is some ways off yet.

And it probably won’t happen.

Asia is more about just China v the rest. There is a lot of old yet still simmering tensions. E.g. South Korea is distrustful of Japan – in fact most Asian nations are opposed to Japanese rearmament.

There’s also a number of unresolved issues in SE Asia.

Really, I see this vast increase in defense spending as having little value for China. As it just pushes many Regional Nations back into the US Camp. Instead China could continue to focus on improving the day to day lives of the Chinese People sending its resources on things like Infrastructure, Education, etc. etc. etc. Which, is not to say China shouldn’t upgrade its Military. Yet, she could have spent it on more Defensive Weapons. For example Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Assault Ships are going to be considered very offensive and China’s Neighbors. Especially, considering China has very few territories (islands) far from the Mainland.

Same could be said about Spain (27% unemployment), Italy, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia etc etc all of whom try to play the power game and whose resources would probably be spent bettering the lives of the populace. And I’m still not entirely sure as to what near defenceless Canberra class LHD’s are meant to be doing either, other than act as glorified humanitarian relief vessels.

Even the US’ military expenditure levels is unrealistic and a lot of that money could’ve been spent bettering the lives of 16% of Americans who live in poverty (according to U.S. Census Bureau and a percentage which is growing).

And China still doesn’t spend anywhere close to the level Uncle Sam does.

Plus, it’s and Arms Race even China can’t win……….The USSR found that out the hard way!

Different economies. China can afford current levels. USSR spent a much, much larger percentage of GDP on military than what China does. And after Khruschev was deposed USSR entered complete economic stagnation with virutally no reform, whilst China has spent the last 30+ years creating a market economy.

China is slowing down now but the outcome of that slow down is yet to be seen.

For what it’s worth, China’s economic slowdown is a disaster for Australia whose primary source of income is selling resources to China.

Also China has shrunk it’s military considerably since 1980s in terms of manpower (shrunk by 1 million service men since 1980s). So even if 1 new unit costs as much as 4 old ones, the number of new units is low.

As the old saying goes, beggars aren’t choosers,