China’s Ministry of National Defense issued a 27,000 word, 6 chapter White Paper on July 24, 2019 released a white paper titled "China’s National Defense in the New Era," disclosing that, before 2017, its military spending accounted for 1.28 percent of its GDP and that from 2012 to 2017, China’s defense expenditure increased from US$98 billion to $152 billion. The White Paper included a number of references to India while comparing defence expenditure, comprehensive strength etc. There were two specific references: one where it said the two (Chinese and Indian) armed forces continue to push for confidence building measures like operationalisation of the hot line etc, and the other was reference to the face-off at Doklam. The White Paper revealed that in the past three years China's expenditure on acquisition of equipments has surpassed that on training and exercises but expenses on troops salaries etc was almost comparable. There was noticeable emphasis on ensuring the loyalty and political reliability of PLA personnel. more attention than on earlier occasions appeared to have been paid to the People's Armed Police Force suggesting increased attention to internal security.
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