Military budget increase tops NPC preview session
Seven per cent increase is slowest since 2010, and the second year in a row beneath 10 per cent
China will increase its defence budget by about 7 per cent this year, the smallest boost since 2010, a move which analysts said reflected the nation’s continuing economic slowdown.
The announcement of the figure on Saturday by Fu Ying, spokeswoman of the National People’s Congress, came amid rising calls by military officers for defence spending to be boosted by at least 10 per cent as China seeks to improve the fighting capability of the People’s Liberation Army.
Defence Budget
Fu said this year’s defence spending would remain at about 1.3 per cent of gross domestic product.
The military needed to protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maintain regional security. China should prevent foreign forces’ intervention and involvement in its territorial disputes with neighbouring states.
Sino-US Relations
