China sticks with overall slow-down in defence spending

Published on 04/03/2017 - 17:09

Beijing looks set to increase defence spending by seven per cent this year, which is less than previous years

China looks set to boost its defence spending by seven per cent this year but the increase is not as big as in previous years.

This only days after the Trump administration said it would boost its military spending by 10 per cent, a budget about four times larger than China’s

There is widespread anxiety over Beijing taking a tougher stance in territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.

But the spokesperson for China’s parliament shrugged off those concerns.

Fu Ying told reporters: “Look at the past decade or so, there have been so many conflicts around the world resulting in large numbers of casualties, loss of property, so many refugees destitute and homeless.

“Which one has China caused? China has never brought any harm to any countries.”

Experts say the rise in defence spending in China has slowed down since 2010 and this will be the second year in a row that there won’t be a double-digit increase.

The annual economic growth target in China is expected to be lowered to 6.5 percent this year.

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