From 2012 to 2017, China's defense expenditures increased from about 670 billion RMB to a little over a trillion RMB. A breakdown of China's defense expenditures from 2010 to 2017 appears in the appendices, which are intended to convey an attitude of transparency and a posture of peace. It's the first time that Defense Expenditure details appears in the White Paper, so it is undoubtedly a clear signal that China wants to convey to the world. 

Are China's military expenditures "Reasonable and Appropriate"? Robert Lawrence Kuhn discussed this matter with Cao Yanzhong, Colonel of the PLA Academy of Military Science and leader of the White Paper drafting team.

According to Cao Yanzhong, China's defense expenditures, on the whole, is reasonable, appropriate, open and transparent. China's defense expenditures will grow together with the growth of the national economy and maintain an appropriate and moderate growth.

"China took into consideration the development of the economy and the demands of national defense, decided on the appropriate scale and composition of defense spending, and manages and applies these funds in accordance with law," Cao said.

China has been trying to meet such demands to the best of its ability when it comes to national defense spending.

The white paper says China applies strict mechanisms of fiscal allocation and budget management on its defense expenditure. It pursues a level of defense spending that is demand-oriented, planning-led and consistent with its capacity. It endeavors to strengthen unified management, coordinate existing and incremental expenditure, gradually practice cost-effectiveness management, and steadily press ahead with reform that is centered on efficacy and efficiency.