China's Defense Budget To Rise 17.8 Pct In 2007
The defense budget will soar by 17.8 pct this year, a senior official said.

The armed forces will get 350.9 bln yuan for this year, a rise of nearly 53 bln yuan over actual spending last year, said Jiang Enzhu, a spokesman for the National People's Congress.

'In recent years, China has gradually been boosting its military expenditures,' he told reporters at a briefing here.

'Our nation has all along rationally set out national defense spending by coordinating national defense with economic development.'

He said the military expenditure would account for 7.5 pct of government expenditure this year, compared to 7.4 pct last year.

'Overall, the proportion has been stable over the past few years,' said Jiang, speaking before the opening Monday of the annual session of the legislature, which is to approve the budget.

'The increases have been in order to make up for the weak basis of the nation's defense.'

China has increased its military spending by double digits nearly every year over the past 15 years, including 14.7 pct last year and 12.6 pct in 2005.

'What I especially want to emphasize is that China persists in following the path of peace and development and in pursuing a defence policy that is defensive in nature,' he said.

'China does not have the wherewithal nor the intention to engage in an arms race. China does not pose and will not pose a threat to any country.'

The budget figures were announced a day after China voiced its opposition to US plans to sell 450 missiles to Taiwan.

Jiang said constitutional reform efforts by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian were moving Taiwan dangerously towards formal independence, and warned against this.

'To resolutely contain the separatist activities of Taiwan independence forces and safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait is the most important and urgent task facing compatriots on both sides of the strait,' Jiang said.

China 'will never tolerate an independent Taiwan and will never permit anyone under any form to split Taiwan from the mainland,' he said.