China: Defense boost to meet 'complex security challenges'
China says increases in its defense budget have been “appropriate and reasonable” and are aimed at meeting the complex security challenges and for China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country
By AP News
Published - Mar 04, 2023, 06:31 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 22, 2023, 06:04 PM EDT
BEIJING (AP) — Increases in China's defense budget have been “appropriate and reasonable” and are aimed at meeting "complex security challenges," a spokesperson for the country's rubber-stamp parliament said Saturday.
Wang Chao gave no indication of whether the rate of increase to be announced 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 defense budget has remained stable as a share of GDP and that China’s military modernization “will not be a threat to any country.”
“On the contrary, it will only be a positive force for safeguarding regional stability and world peace,” Wang told reporters at a news conference.
