China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday denied online claims that the monthly salary for military leaders will be increased.
Posts that have gone viral recently on Chinese social media platforms stated that the monthly salary of command-rank military leaders will be increased to 30,000 yuan ($4,516) and that of regimental-rank leaders will reach 20,000 yuan.
The posts also claimed that the monthly salary of second lieutenants would be doubled to 3,000 yuan, and that of colonels would reach between 5,000 and 6,000 yuan.
The salaries listed for those serving in the air force and navy were nearly double the salaries of army personnel.
China's defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian denied the increase in a regular news briefing on Thursday, saying that adjustments to soldiers' salaries are based on national regulations, social and economic development and the armed forces' needs.
According to a statement from the ministry, the basic monthly salary of a lieutenant is about 6,200 yuan.
China in March announced the country's lowest defense budget increase in six years in the wake of rising economic headwinds and last year's massive drawdown of military service personnel.
According to a budget report presented to the annual session of the national legislature, the government plans to raise the 2016 defense budget by 7.6 percent to 954 billion yuan.
