Overview of the Chinese Military, and More from CRS

“From 2005 through 2014, China’s official military budget increased at an average rate of 9.5% per year in real terms, allowing the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] to improve its capabilities in many dimensions,” says a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service based on open sources.

“The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort is a central issue in U.S. defense planning and foreign policy. Congress’ decisions on this issue could affect U.S. defense strategy, budgets, plans, and programs, and the U.S. defense industrial base,” the CRS report said. See The Chinese Military: Overview and Issues for Congress, March 24, 2016.

Other new and newly updated products from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

What’s the Difference? — Comparing U.S. and Chinese Trade Data, updated March 24, 2016

Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 25, 2016:

President Obama’s Historic Visit to Cuba, CRS Insight, March 25, 2016

U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions, updated March 25, 2016

Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background and Current Practice, March 25, 2016

The Federal Budget: Overview and Issues for FY2017 and Beyond, March 24, 2016

Public Trust and Law Enforcement–A Brief Discussion for Policymakers, updated March 22, 2016

Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress, updated March 23, 2016

European Security and Islamist Terrorism, CRS Insight, March 23, 2016

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons, updated March 23, 2016