China, which has one of the world's largest armies, said defense spending is necessary to safeguard peace, DPA and China's state news agency Xinhua reported, BTA reports.
China, a country with strong national defense, is able to better protect its national sovereignty, security and interests, as well as better fulfill its international responsibilities as a major country and ensure world peace and stability, said Lou Qingjiang, spokesman for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress, which will open tomorrow in Beijing. Low stressed that China's defense spending is below the world average as a percentage of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Since 2016, Beijing's annual defense spending has maintained single-digit growth for nine consecutive years, Low said, adding that the share of defense spending has remained below 1.5 percent of GDP for many years. "Peace must be defended with strength," Low stressed.
The official representative of the Chinese Communist Party did not disclose other figures, but specified that the size of this year's defense budget will be announced at the upcoming session of the National People's Congress.
China is ready to work with other countries to make new and greater contributions to maintaining world peace and promoting common development, Low added.
According to experts, Beijing will significantly increase its defense spending again. Since taking office in 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been pushing for a comprehensive modernization of the army.
Recently, the Chinese military organized surprise exercises off the coast of Taiwan. Beijing considers the democratically-ruled island in the Pacific Ocean to be part of its territory. Taiwan, however, has had an independent government since 1949, the DPA noted.
Chinese forces also regularly clash with the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Recent Chinese maneuvers, including live fire, in international waters off Australia have also sparked concern in the region.