China's National People's Congress in 2018: Defence Budget Increase and Veteran Affairs

Restructuring and downsizing of China's military, its counter-corruption drive and improved supervision, its focus on its professional role and its limited goals may help optimise the use of the defence budget approved recently by the National People's Congress (NPC). Similarly, the NPC's decision to establish a Ministry of Veteran Affairs to resolve grievances of military veterans may enhance social stability and boost morale in the People's Liberation Army as well as help Xi Jinping to consolidate power.