China's Congress increases defence budget

Increases in China's defence budget have been "appropriate and reasonable" and are aimed at meeting "complex security challenges," a spokesperson for the country's parliament said on Saturday. Wang Chao gave no indication of whether the rate of increase to be announced on Sunday at the opening of the National People's Congress's annual session would be above or below last year's 7.1%.

But he said the defence budget has remained stable as a share of GDP, and that China's military modernization "will not pose a threat to any countries". Wang added China's defence spending was "lower than the world average, and the growth rate is relatively appropriate and reasonable". China spent 1.7% of GDP on its military in 2021, according to the World Bank, while the US, with its massive overseas obligations, spent a relatively high 3.5%.