Wu Qian, spokesman of the PLA and armed police delegation to the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, answered reporters' questions on 9 September. Maintaining a reasonable and stable growth in China's defense spending is the need to meet security challenges and fulfill the responsibility of a big country Introducing the budget arrangement of this year's national defense expenditure, Wu Qian said that the Chinese government adheres to the principle of coordinated development of national defense construction and economic construction, and reasonably determines the scale of national defense expenditure according to national defense needs and the level of national economic development. In recent years, while maintaining sustained and healthy economic and social development, the Chinese government has generally maintained a reasonable and stable growth in national defense expenditure and promoted the simultaneous improvement of national defense strength and economic strength. Wu Qian said that in 2022, the national defense expenditure budget was 1476.081 billion yuan (including 1450.45 billion yuan at the central level), an increase of 7.1% over the budget implementation of the previous year. The increased national defense expenditure is mainly used for: in accordance with the arrangements of the 14th five year plan for military construction, making every effort to ensure the implementation of the planned tasks and accelerate the modernization of weapons and equipment; Implement the strategy of strengthening the military with talents in the new era, and promote the comprehensive transformation and upgrading of the ability, quality, structural layout, development and management of military personnel; Deepen the reform of national defense and the army, and ensure major reforms such as military policies and systems; In line with the national economic and social development level, we will continue to improve the working, training and living security conditions of the army, and improve the Living welfare of officers and soldiers. Wu Qian said that in accordance with the requirements of the national defense law, the budget law and other laws and regulations, the Chinese government's annual national defense expenditure budget is included in the draft government budget, reviewed and approved by the people's Congress, managed and used according to law, and announced the total national defense expenditure budget. China has actively participated in the United Nations military expenditure transparency system and has submitted an annual report on military expenditure for the previous fiscal year to the United Nations since 2008. "Some external forces hype the so-called 'invisible military spending', which is just groundless Arabian Nights." Wu Qian said. Wu Qian said that compared with the United States and other military powers, China's defense spending is still at a low level. China's defense expenditure is relatively low in terms of its share in gross domestic product (GDP), national fiscal expenditure, national defense expenditure per capita and military defense expenditure per capita. "China's increase in defense spending is not only the need to meet complex security challenges, but also the need to fulfill the responsibility of a big country. History has proved and will continue to prove that the Chinese army has always been a firm force in safeguarding national interests and safeguarding world peace." Wu Qian said. The Chinese army has carried out international cooperation in the fight against epidemic diseases with more than 50 armies Wu Qian said covid-19 outbreak of global outbreak is a major historical test for human civilization. In this arduous war of epidemic prevention and interdiction, while fully supporting local epidemic prevention and control and doing a good job in their own epidemic prevention and control, the Chinese Army actively participated in international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic, contributed the strength of the Chinese army to the international community and demonstrated the responsibility of the Chinese army. Wu Qian said that in early 2020, at the critical moment of China's anti epidemic struggle, many foreign defense departments and armed forces extended a helping hand to China. Leaders of defense departments and armed forces of more than 20 countries, including Pakistan, Belarus and Cambodia, sent letters of condolences to Trinidad and Tobago, Mongolia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar The defense departments and armies of Cambodia and other countries urgently donated epidemic prevention materials and funds. Military attach é s of foreign embassies in China and foreign students studying in China expressed their good wishes to help each other and share weal and woe through videos and letters. *** The Chinese army has carried out international cooperation with the armies of more than 50 countries in the fight against epidemic diseases by providing epidemic prevention material assistance, sending an army anti epidemic expert group and holding a video conference on epidemic prevention and control experience. The pragmatic measures taken by the Chinese army to fulfill its international obligations and provide public safety products in the epidemic have been highly recognized and widely welcomed by the international community. "The virus has no national boundaries. The epidemic situation is regardless of race. Unity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to overcome the epidemic." Wu Qian said that the Chinese army will continue to strengthen friendly cooperation with defense departments and armed forces of various countries, work together to overcome difficulties, let the sunshine of cooperation dispel the haze of the epidemic, guard the common homeland with unity, and continue to make positive contributions to the construction of a human health community. We will never tolerate the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" and the interference of external forces, and will fight when they show up Wu Qian said that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait are brothers of common destiny and a family whose blood is thicker than water. We have always adhered to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and are willing to do our utmost with the greatest sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification between the two sides of the Strait, but we will never tolerate the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to split the motherland. Wu Qian said that the PLA's relevant training activities are aimed at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and interference by external forces, and are by no means aimed at Taiwan compatriots. Wu Qian said that since taking office, the DPP authorities have refused to recognize the "1992 consensus", stepped up "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and linked external forces to seek "independence" provocation. Such acts seriously harm the well-being of Taiwan compatriots and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and are the root cause of the current tension and turbulence in the Taiwan Strait region. "History has proved that many wrongdoings will lead to self destruction. Pursuing" Taiwan independence "is just an ant trying to shake the tree. In the end, it can only lead to self destruction." Wu Qian said. Wu Qian said that the Taiwan issue is purely an internal affair of China and does not allow any external interference. The United States and Japan's attempt to realize their political plot of "using Taiwan to control China" by playing the "Taiwan card" is doomed to be a dream that will not come true. "The more the United States and Japan quarrel over the Taiwan issue, the harder our actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity will be." Wu Qian said, "it must be pointed out that the Chinese people's Liberation Army will not tolerate the separatist act of 'Taiwan independence' and the interference of external forces. It will fight when it comes out." (Xinhua News Agency)