To counter US, China ups defence spending

Beijing, March 4: China will raise defence spending “around seven per cent” this year as it guards against “outside meddling” in its disputed regional territorial claims, a top official said on Saturday, in an apparent reference to Washington.

Just days after US President Donald Trump outlined plans to raise American military spending by around 10 per cent, a spokeswoman for China’s parliament told reporters that future Chinese expenditures will depend on US actions in the region.

“We call for a peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation (of the territorial disputes). At the same time we need the ability to safeguard our sovereignty and interests and rights,” spokeswoman Fu Ying said at a press conference ahead of the rubber-stamp parliament session.

“In particular, we need to guard against outside meddling in the disputes.”

The annual press briefing comes a day ahead of Sunday’s opening of the National People’s Congress (NPC).

Ms Fu did not specify what “meddling” she was referring to, but Beijing’s increasingly assertive stance towards its claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea have stirred alarm in the region and prompted criticism from Washington.

The planned spending increase is in line with last year, when the government said 2016 outlays would increase by 6.5-7.0 per cent.

China is engaged in a decades-long build up of its armed forces as it seeks military clout commensurate with its economic might.

But its military capabilities re-main modest, Ms Fu said.