Question

Although it is agreed that China is rapidly modernizing its army, there is some doubt surrounding the exact amount it is spending. The research institute 'PIPPI' submits that the annual Chinese defense spending has risen from almost $31 billion in 2000 to over $120 billion in 2010. This figure is almost double the official figure published by the Chinese government, who fail to include many other areas such as research and development in the official figure each year. In 2010, the United States government spent around $400 billion on military defense. Based on the current level of military growth, statistics suggest that China's defense spending could overtake America's by 2030. In addition to military spending, China's army continues to enjoy the largest number of people within the ranks of its army than any other country.

In 2010 the United States of America spent less on its military defenses than the Chinese government.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. More Information Required
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer 1

In 2010, the official defense budget of the United States was around $400 billion, but when considering all defense-related spending, it was closer to $840 billion, which far exceeds China's estimated $120 billion military spending for the same year according to 'PIPPI'. Therefore, the statement that the United States spent less on military defenses than China in 2010 is false.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question revolves around the accuracy of a statement concerning the United States' and China's military spending in 2010. It suggests that in 2010, the United States spent less on its military defenses than the Chinese government. To assess this claim, we must look at the provided statistics. In 2010, the United States government's official defense spending was around $400 billion.

However, it is important to note that this figure may not encompass all defense-related spending. Looking at the broader picture of U.S. military expenditures, the annual defense budget including all associated costs was around 5 percent of the GDP, which, based on the U.S.'s $16.8 trillion GDP, would equate to approximately $840 billion. This amount is significantly greater than the amount suggested for China's defense spending by the research institute 'PIPPI,' which alleges a spending of over $120 billion in 2010, almost double that of China's official defense budget.