[军事一瞥]中国军队的杯形蛋糕攻略

当世界规模最大的军队——人民解放军（PLA）－－今天邀请外国人进入其神密的队伍中时，他们不但以张开的双臂来欢迎来客，还展示了他们的轻武器。长期以来，中国对于自己的军事家底一直守口如瓶，这引起了对其日益增强的实力和飞速增长的军费开支满怀警惕的国家的批评。而解放军正通过更大程度的开放来尝试平息此类担忧。

China's army uses media display to launch cupcakes offensive

The display of wrestling and sharp-shooting（精准射击） might have been predicted; so too, perhaps, the welcome from the military band. But the offer of cupcakes was an unexpected bonus.

When the world's largest military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA)（中国人民解放军）, invited foreigners into its secretive ranks today, it did so with open, as well as small, arms. There was a sneak preview of the dormitories, where soldiers sleep 10 to a room in bunk beds and the quilts were so geometrically folded that the creases （折缝）were sharp as knives. There was a visit to the firing range where soldiers peppered targets that promptly unfurled （展开）to reveal a message welcoming their guests.

There was also an inspection of the kitchens, well-stocked of course, in accordance with the old maxim that an army marches on its stomach. Sides of meat hung from hooks; tables were piled with vegetables, steamed buns（馒头） and, yes, cupcakes.

Outside clouds of smoke rose in the distance as troops fired rocket launchers. Moments later, dozens of men kicked, punched（拳击） and leapt their way through a wrestling and fighting display. That was followed by a dramatic set-piece in which soldiers exchanged fire with fleeing black-clad "terrorists" and stormed their hideout.

What followed was equally striking. "Now you are invited to conduct individual interviews," the commander announced as soldiers lined up in a row in front of the media.

Annual double-digit rises（两位数的增长） in military spending（军费开支） have stoked fears in the US and among neighbours about China's rising strength. The PLA has sought to allay those fears by addressing a broader audience. This weekend, the ministry of defence will launch a bilingual website, state media has reported.

"China is more and more open to the outside world," said Senior Colonel Leng Jiesong, head of the Third Guard Division, at a brief press conference this morning. "So is the People's Liberation Army, and we are actively speeding up our opening process."

The Chinese military budget rose 14.9% to 480.6bn yuan (£43b) this year, which the country claims it needs to keep up with other nations and its growing responsibilities, such as contributing to peacekeeping forces.

While officers emphasised the shift from "mechanisation" to "informatisation", the displays yesterday were distinctly old-school. Watching soldiers pounding at keyboards might have lacked the same impact.

Keke View：近二十年来，中国的国防开支以每年两位数的速度增长。北京宣布今年将军费增加14.9个百分点，达4806.8亿人民币（合702.7亿美元）。这一数字可与日本、俄罗斯和英国的军费开支比肩，但跟美国相比仍然相形见绌，后者的军费比北京多近10倍。