全國人大會議發言人傅瑩解答我國今年的軍費開支

China will increase military expenditure by about 7 to 8 percent this year, according to Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress. No wonder it has drawn worldwide attention as usual despite it will be a slower growth than that in the past years.

第十二屆全國人大第四次會議發言人傅瑩近日表示，今年中國的軍費支出將維持7%~8%的增長。這一增長速度雖然與前幾年相比有所放緩，但也仍像以往一樣引起了國際的極大關注。

In recent years, foreign critics have been most concerned about the modernization of China's military, which is basically supported and guaranteed by the increase in its defense budget. But what these critics don't understand is that China's growing military capacity will not pose a threat to regional peace and security.

近些年來，國外的專家們最關心的就是中國軍隊的現代化建設。而爲了提供有力支持和保障，中國的國防預算一直呈增長趨勢。但是這些專家一直不理解的是，中國軍事實力的增強不會對地區的和平和安全構成威脅。

First, the increase in China's defense budget is justified, especially because its military's modernization has always been at an appropriate level.

首先，中國國防預算的增長是合理的，這主要由於中國軍隊的現代化進程一直處於適度的水平。

China needs its armed forces to protect its peaceful development. This is important for maintaining peace and managing crises. China has to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and to deal with both traditional and non-traditional security threats. Given these facts, China has every reason to develop its military's capabilities.

中國需要軍隊來保證自身的和平發展，同時軍隊對於保衛和平和處理危機也十分重要。中國必須要捍衛國家主權、安全和自身發展利益，同時也要應對現有以及突發的安全威脅。考慮到這些實際問題，中國有充分的理由加強自身的軍事力量建設。

Militaries of all countries need to develop, for that is the global trend, and the Chinese military is no exception. Since China's military is in the semi-mechanized/mechanized stage of development, it still lags behind others in terms of capacity. And it will take a long time to become a fully modernized force.

如今各國都在加強軍事實力建設，這已然成爲全球趨勢，中國也不例外。況且中國軍隊正處於半自動化向自動化的過渡期，在規模方面還落後於其它國家，所以中國軍隊實現完全現代化還需要很長的時間。

Second, to determine whether a country's military poses a threat to other countries, the key factor is not defense expenditure or the size and capability of its armed forces; instead, it is its defense policy and military strategy. A country with an aggressive policy could invade another country despite having a weaker military.

其次，看一個國家的軍力是否對別國構成威脅，關鍵不在於軍費開支，也不在於軍隊的規模和實力，而要看這個國家的國防政策和軍事戰略。一個奉行侵略性政策的國家即使軍事實力不強也可能會侵犯別國。

Another typical misconception about China's military is that, since its missiles can strike a certain country, it is capable of destroying that country's satellites and thus poses a threat to it. But the fact is, many countries have developed long-range strategic missiles, and the United States has the greatest capability of destroying other countries' space assets, and its weapon systems can attack any country. So, is the US the greatest threat to the world?

還有一個關於中國軍力的傳統誤區。輿論認爲中國擁有的導彈規模可以打擊某一國家，而且還掌握了摧毀他國衛星的軍事技術，因此對有些國家構成了威脅。然而事實是，當今許多國家都具備戰略遠程打擊能力，同時美國摧毀別國衛星系統的能力最強，其武器實力可以打擊任何國家，按此邏輯，美國是不是應該成爲全世界的威脅呢？

Also, let us not forget that the US has 11 aircraft carriers while China has just one, which is not fully operational. It is, therefore, clear that it is a country's defense policy that matters most whether it poses a threat to other countries. And China's national defense policy has always been defensive in nature and its military strategy is to strike only when it is struck.

另外，不要忘了美國擁有11艘航母，而中國只有1艘，而且還未完全投入使用。因此，判斷一個國家是否對別國具有威脅關鍵是要看其國防政策。中國多年來一直奉行防禦型的國防政策以及不針對任何國家的軍事策略。

Third, since China has developed at an unprecedented pace because of a peaceful environment, it is committed to maintaining peace. China plans to double the average income of its people by 2020 compared with 2010 and become a mid-level developed country by 2050. All this can be achieved only in a peaceful environment — a conflict or war will disrupt the process. China has a chapter of history of being bullied, invaded and semi-colonized. As a result, it will never pursue expansionism or hegemonism.

第三，得益於和平的外部環境，中國實現了飛速的發展，所以中國一直在致力於維護和平。到2020年前，中國計劃實現人均收入較2010年翻番以及在2050年前成爲中等發達國家。這些目標的實現都需要和平的外部環境，哪怕一次衝突或者戰爭都會打亂這個進程。中國曾經有一段半殖民地化的屈辱歷史，因此中國絕不會尋求擴張和霸權主義。

And fourth, with a reasonable increase in its budget, the Chinese military will develop steadily to fulfill its domestic and international obligations and responsibilities. Besides, China's military will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping missions, keep conducting escort and anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and other seas, as required, and work with other countries to maintain world peace.

第四點，合理的軍費開支增長有助於中國軍隊更好的履行國內及國際的義務和使命，中國軍隊將繼續按照規定參與聯合國維和、亞丁灣及其他海域護航等任務，與其他國家一道維護世界的和平。

The Chinese military is also committed to reducing risks, managing crises and controlling conflicts, so as to prevent untoward incidents that could disrupt peace and stability. With the growth in China's national strength, its military will be better prepared to shoulder more international responsibilities, provide more public security services to the international community and contribute more to world peace and common development.

中國軍隊也將繼續加強危機處理，處理衝突以杜絕一切可能破壞和平穩定的突發事件。隨着國力的不斷增強，中國軍隊也準備肩負更多的國際使命，爲國際社會提供更多公共安全服務，爲世界和平和共同發展貢獻更多力量。