March 13,2008: Responding to international criticism of its rapidly growing defense budget, China announced that much of the most recent increase would go to giving its military personnel a raise. This is good news for the troops, and recognition that there is a growing labor shortage in China. There is still high unemployment in China, but among the trained and talented part of the labor force, there is a shortage. As the military acquires more modern equipment and weapons, they need more capable people to maintain the stuff. This is proving very difficult, what with the rapid growth of high-tech industries in China. Military pay scales aren't competitive, and the government has to address that, or see their huge investment in high tech weapons quickly waste away for want of proper care.