INDIA GROWING ITS MILITARY EXPENDITURES TO FEND OFF PAKISTAN AND COMMUNIST CHINA TO $63.9 BILLION PUTTING INDIA IN THE TOP 5 MILITARY 2017 SPENDERS BEHIND THE USA $610 BILLION, CHINA $228 BILLION, RUSSIA $87.8 BILLION (2013), SAUDI ARABIA $67 BILLION (2013)

NEW DELHI • India has joined the United States and China as one of the world's five biggest military spenders, reflecting geopolitical tensions as well as the country's reliance on imported weapons and sprawling personnel costs.
New Delhi's defence spending rose by 5.5 per cent to US$63.9 billion (S$85.3 billion) in 2017 and has now passed France, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report released yesterday. Worldwide military spending rose marginally last year to US$1.73 trillion, or roughly 2.2 per cent of global gross domestic product, the think-tank said.
"The Indian government plans to expand, modernise and enhance the operational capability of its armed forces, motivated at least partially by tensions with China and Pakistan," the report read.

The list of the world's biggest military spenders has remained consistent in recent years, dominated by the US and China, which spent US$610 billion and US$228 billion, respectively last year, according to SIPRI, which researches global arms spending.
However, the group said the balance of military spending is "clearly shifting" towards Asia, Oceania and the Middle East, driven largely by spending increases in China, India and Saudi Arabia.
China spends far more on its military than any other power in Asia. Beijing's share of worldwide military expenditure rose to 13 per cent in 2017 from just 5.8 per cent in 2008, according to SIPRI.

 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/india-among-top-five-defence-spenders-in-world

AUSTRALIA REACTS TO ANTi SHIP MISSILES INSTALLATION ON THREE ISLAND CARRIERS MILITARIZED BY COMMUNIST CHINA AS MISSILLE INSTALLATION BEGUN IN FIERY CROSS REEF, SUBI REEF, MISCHIEF REEF OF THE SPRATLY ISLAND CHAIN TO PROJECT DOMINANCE 295 MILES AROUND EACH ISLAND

CHINA has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, US news network CNBC reports, citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports.

The move, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the Australian Government would be “concerned” if the reports were accurate.
The Minister refused to confirm or deny any Australian intelligence about the missiles.
But she said: “If the media reports are accurate, then the Australian Government would be concerned because this would be contrary to China’s stated aspiration that it would not militarise these features.”

http://www.news.com.au/military/china-installs-missiles-on-three-south-china-sea-outposts/news-story/3ef29ce7950904151a0b7328686cf511

CHINA USES THE OLD COMMUNIST TRICK IN THE BOOK CLAIMS NO MILITARIZATION OF ITS NEW STOLEN ISLANDS OF THE ASIAN SOUTH SEA MAKING THEM INTO ISLAND CARRIERS HAS NOW INSTALLED MISSILES - THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN ASIA IS THREATENED AS THE COMMUNIST CHINA GOES ON THE MOVE WITH ITS BELT AND ROAD PROJECT TO HUNG THE WORLD

The United States has raised concerns with China about its latest militarization of the South China Sea and there will be near-term and long-term consequences, the White House said on Thursday.

U.S. news network CNBC reported on Wednesday that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three outposts in the South China Sea. It cited sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence.

Asked about the report, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a regular news briefing: "We’re well aware of China’s militarization of the South China Sea. We’ve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences."

Sanders did not say what the consequences might be.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. intelligence had seen some signs that China had moved some weapons systems to the Spratly Islands in the past month or so, but offered no details.

CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to U.S. intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands within the past 30 days.

They would be the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratlys, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims.

China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Its foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratlys and that necessary defensive deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country.

"Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Julie Bishop, the foreign minister of U.S. ally Australia, said the reports, if accurate, would be a concern as the actions would be contrary to China's stated aspiration not to militarize the features.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/u-says-consequences-chinas-south-china-sea-militarization-012917674.html

CHINA IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH ITS BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE GLOBAL REACH IS READY TO PUT A NOOSE AROUND THE WORLD WITH ITS FINANCING OF POOR THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES IN EXCHANGE FOR FORCED MILITARY BASES WHEN DEBT PAYMENT IS NOT MADE SUCH AS DJIBOUTI AFRICA AND ITS RING AROUND THE COLLAR OF THE ASIA'S SOUTH SEA NOW FUNCTIONING MILITARY ISLAND CARRIER BASES

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that Chinese nationals fired lasers near a military base in east Africa against U.S. military aircraft in the region, injuring several pilots.
Pentagon Press Secretary Dana White said the U.S. government made diplomatic protests to the Chinese government over several recent incidents of laser firings near China's first overseas military base at Djibouti.
"These are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a threat to our airmen," White told reporters.
"We have formally demarched the Chinese government, and we've requested that the Chinese investigate these incidents," she added.
The number of incidents is "more than two but less than ten" and the laser firings took place in recent weeks, White said.
White said the Pentagon is confident that Chinese nationals were behind the laser firings but did not elaborate on the intelligence linking Beijing to the incidents.
She declined to speculate on the Chinese motive behind the laser attacks.
"I believe there have been cases where this has happened previously," White said. "But what this started was these last few weeks we decided to become very serious about it, and we have demarched the Chinese, and we've asked for the investigation."
China's government has not commented on the incidents. A Chinese military expert told the state-run Global Times newspaper that the U.S. accusations that China used a laser weapon in Djibouti was "groundless."
China opened the military base in Djibouti last year and plans to deploy some 400 troops there.
China's government has asserted that the base is merely a logistics hub for anti-piracy operations as well as to support China's international infrastructure project called Belt and Road Initiative.
The U.S. government regards the Chinese base as part of Beijing's efforts to project military power around the world.
The Djibouti incidents appear similar to the 1997 incident involving a Russian merchant ship that was shadowing a Navy missile submarine and fired a laser on a Canadian surveillance helicopter.
The laser damaged the eyes of the Navy Lt. Jack Daly and Canadian pilot Captain Patrick Barnes near Washington state and was covered up by the administration of President Bill Clinton.
China and the United States have battled over international trade and finance after the Trump administration announced it will impose tariffs on China for its unfair trade practices.
The U.S. and Chinese militaries also have squared off in the South China Sea where China is seeking to take control of the strategic waterway. The U.S. military has been seeking to counter the illegal claim by sending ships and aircraft near disputed islands in the sea that have been militarized in recent years by China.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/pentagon-confirms-chinese-fired-lasers-u-s-pilots/