The world's biggest military is about to grow. Beijing announced last week it would increase military spending by about 7 percent, totaling about $147 billion. Beijing also plans to increase its marine corps by 400 percent in a bid to expand the nation's economic and military influence across Asia and into Africa, according to News Corp. Australian Network. With 2,3 million soldiers, Chinese leaders already command the largest standing army on the planet.
The initiative is reportedly part of China's "One Belt, One Road" campaign. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in 2013 that the country would invest in historic "Silk Road" trade routes across the continent of Asia to Europe and Africa. China has since reportedly decided to increase the presence of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Indian Ocean to protect intercontinental maritime links.
"The PLA marines will be increased to 100,000, consisting of six brigades in the coming future [to] fulfill new missions of our country,” Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted an unnamed military source as saying. The source added that there was also an anticipated 15 percent increase of China's navy from 235,000 to over 270,000 personnel.
China's military activity has concerned the U.S. and neighboring nations, which dispute Beijing's vast territorial claims over the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea. China reportedly began building a large port Wednesday on one of the contested islands in the South China Sea, further straining relations with neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Taiwan, which also claim sovereignty over islands in the region. Both the U.S. and Japan have recently sent large naval fleets to counter China's presence. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said China's latest military boost could help enforce the country's foreign policy abroad
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