The Chinese government has announced the defence budget for the fiscal year 2022 to be 1.45 trillion dollars (USD 23 billion), a 7.1 per cent increase over the previous year. Today, the state-owned China Daily reported quoting the budget proposal in the draft that Minister Li Keqiang sent to the National People’s Congress (NPC), the nation’s parliament. The rise means China’s defence budget will be more than three times as much as India’s, which amounts to 5.25 lakh crore (about USD 70 billion) in 2022. In China last year, defence expenditures, for the very first time, surpassed 200 billion dollars. In 2021, China’s defence budget increased by 6.8 per cent to USD 209 billion. China has the second-largest airforce, second only to the United States.

India vs China Defence Comparison

Manpower

Land Forces

Air Forces

Navy

India vs China Airforce 

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), is more powerful compared to Indian Air force (IAF) in terms of its fleet and strategic inventory.

However, the IAF is more reliable in its platforms and bases for strategic purposes and experienced troops.​

China

• China has the second-largest airforce globally, whereas IAF ranks fourth globally.
• The PLAAF’s massive fighter aircraft and modern air defence systems challenge IAF’s fleet size.
• PLAAF has over 2,000 battle aircraft, more than two times the IAF’s 900 combat aircraft.
• PLAAF is a strategic long-range bomber fleet and has more strategic assets, including the airborne warning and controlling system (AWACS) aircraft and combat drones, compared to the IAF.

India

• IAF pilots have hands-on experience in combat missions at high altitudes.
• The location of the bases close to the LAC guarantees uninterrupted support for India’s air assets.
• Combat-tested platforms for aerial combat, such as the AH-64E Apaircraftd CH-47F Chinook, provide reliability during conflicts. The modern fleet of transport aircraft allows quick transfer of equipment and supplies into the operational zones.
• While the PLAAF is preparing to introduce J-20, it was said to be a fifth generation due to its stealth characteristics. It is considered to be inferior to the IAF Rafale, which is a 4.5-generation aircraft.

India-China War of 1962

India did not anticipate the possibility that China would ever attack it; however, it did.

India faced an attack on 20 October 20th, 1962; it became the Sino-India or Indian china war in 1962. The idea of never facing an attack by China didn’t allow the Indian army to get ready, and it resulted in a confrontation between 10,000 to 20,000 Indian troops and the 80,000 Chinese troops. The war lasted about one month and finally ended on 21 November, following the day that China declared a cease-fire.

What happened in the Galwan Valley?

The border conflict between China and India in 2020 was a result of Indian Chinese and Indian Chinese forces in a violent clash for six hours at Galwan Valley on 15 June.

While the exact cause for the fight was not known, both sides accused one another of inciting the fighting.

The fighting was intense and was not accompanied by gunfire. There were twenty Indians in addition to 43 Chinese deaths, according to Indian media.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defence confirmed the number of casualties but declined to disclose the number of casualties.

Despite the gap of six decades between 1962 and 2020, and an array of agreements following returning to diplomatic activity in 1976, The two events share certain similarities.

Conclusion

The budget increase is expected due to two factors. First, China’s modernisation program is in full flow. Under the centenary objectives set out by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will be modernised by 2027. The CPC has decided in the future that the modernisation process of “national defence and the armed forces” must be completed in 2035. The increase in China’s defence budget spending will majorly impact India. The increase in spending will result in a greater gap between Chinese and Indian capabilities in the military. In conjunction with China’s modernisation push and its emphasis on the use of high-tech technology within the army, India has a significant deficit to fill in the area of hard power.