China will be allotting around US$145 billion as budget for its military spending in 2015. The amount was a 10 percent jump from a year ago, a looming figure even as the country’s growth is projected to slow down in the same year, at just seven percent. Part of the amount could be spent to further improve the new light killer tank it has reportedly built, dubbed the ZTQ.

In an annual report to China's parliament, the National People's Congress, Premier Li Keqiang said it was imperative for the country to step up national defence research that will lead to the development of new- and high-technology weapons and equipment. "We will comprehensively strengthen modern logistics and develop defence-related science and technology industries." The budget allocation is seen to possibly acquire or pour research investments into hi-tech equipment, including submarines and stealth jets, the BBC said.

China had been setting aside ample amounts for its defence budget. In fact, it is known as the world’s second-largest military spender, next to the United States. Only that experts had been particularly picking on the country’s planned military expenditure for 2015. Richard A. Bitzinger​, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told New York Times that China’s increases on its defence budget had always outperformed its GDP growth.

“But this is the first time when the gap could be really, really big,” Bitzinger said. He noted that if the economy fails to reach the targeted seven percent, but proceeded with the targeted military spending, “it demonstrates that the Chinese leadership is committed to increasing defence spending, no matter what.” In 2014, China said its budget for military spending was to be at $132 billion, a 12.2 percent jump over 2013.

The allotted budget, Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association in Beijing, said still remains lower compared to the allocations made by the U.S. and Japan. “Per capita, China’s military spending remains too low, only about $57,000 for each member of the military forces in 2014.”

But whether low or not, experts believed part of the funding will be used to improve China’s naval and air power, as well as improve designs of armaments that will help it win land battles. According to portal medium.com, China has a new design of its light killer tank. Beijing allegedly pushed for the development of the diminutive fighting vehicle ZTQ as a good measure to help defend China’s western land border.

Beijing has been earnestly trying to copy, if not outmatch, the capabilities of America’s military weaponry, such as its stealth fighters, combat helicopters, even warships. The ZTQ, however, is one invention that states China has “actually exceeded the Pentagon’s own accomplishments,” David Axe said on his article at medium.com.

The world’s best heavy tank, the 70-tonne M-1A2SEPv2, is owned by the Pentagon. China has the lightest so far. But then again, “America isn’t trying to defend a mountainous land border like China is.”

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