Message From Beijing, Part 3Dr. Alexandr NemetsThursday, March 21, 2002Message From Beijing, Part 1Message From Beijing, Part 2 During the recent annual session of the Chinese Parliament, on March 5-12, Hong Kong and Taiwanese media published many reports about a huge new increase in the Chinese military budget and PLA modernization prospects. Some of these reports even claimed that China's real defense expenditures are five times greater than the ones stated officially (the author still believes that real expenses surpass the official by "only" four times). Indeed, almost unlimited financing allows the PLA to purchase hundreds of modern fighters,...