Beijing:
China has hiked its defence outlay for 2007 by 17.8
per cent to $43.95 billion to improve its military's capability
to fight a "defensive war" and safeguard national
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This
year's defence budget accounts for 7.5 per cent of the
budgeted fiscal expenditure, compared with 7.7 per cent
in 2004, 7.3 per cent in 2005 and 7.4 per cent in 2006
or $35.09 billion.
Chinese
finance minister Jin Renqing said the government has allocated
347.23 billion yuan ($43.95 billion) for the current fiscal,
registering a growth of 17.8 per cent over last year.
He said te extra money will be spent on boosting living
allowances for the armed forces, training and upgrading
military armaments.
Jin
told the delegates to the fifth session of the 10th National
People's Congress, the budgetary outlay for 2007 would
cover the cost of improving the Army's ability to fight
a defensive war under hi-tech conditions and respond to
emergencies, safeguarding the country's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and appropriately increasing benefits
for military personnel.
Jin's
reference to protecting China's territorial integrity
mainly refers to the unresolved issue of Taiwan, which
Beijing views as a rebel province. China vigorously opposes
Taiwanese independence.
China's
defence spending has long been a source of concern to
India, Japan and the US, which suspects China of spending
up to three times the officially disclosed figures.
US
deputy secretary John Negroponte had urged China to be
more transparent on its military spending and its military
plans, during his visit to China yesterday.
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