The Straits Times
05 March 2017
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- China’s Defence Budget to Rise by 7%
China’s Defence Budget to Rise by 7%
China’s defence budget this year will rise by around 7 per cent over last year’s US$147 billion (S$207 billion), a senior official has said, pointing out that increasing China’s military capability would benefit peace and security in the region.
Ms Fu Ying, spokesman for the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s Parliament, said that the situation in the South China Sea is “calming down” as China and Asean countries have returned to consultations and negotiations over their disputes.
She was speaking to local and foreign media ahead of the opening of the NPC’s annual session today.
… While the 7 per cent increase is the smallest in seven years, it is still a substantial amount because of the high base of the budget, noted regional security expert Li Mingjiang of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
GPO / IDSS / Online / Print
Last updated on 06/03/2017
