China has signaled that it will boost its defense spending, already the world's second-largest after the United States.
The rise in spending mirrors the nation's emphasis on upholding national sovereignty and peace, something that can only be maintained through military power.
Premier Li Qiang will announce the budget for defense as part of the overall budget to be released to the National People's Congress (NPC) on Wednesday.
China increased its military budget by 7.2% to a record USD 232 billion (1.67 trillion yuan) last year, which is well over three times India's budget. China persists in investing significant amounts in defence modernization efforts, such as the construction of aircraft carriers, sophisticated naval warships, and stealth fighter aircraft.
In spite of these enormous investments, China justifies its defense expenditure. Lou Qinjian, an NPC spokesman, said peace has to be defended by power, asserting that the strong national defense capabilities of China enable the nation to ensure sovereignty, security, and development interests. He added that China's defense spending, as a proportion of GDP, is lower than the global average and has been below 1.5% for years.
Since 2016, China has retained single-digit growth in its yearly defense spending, reaffirming its emphasis on military modernization while holding its spending relatively in check compared to its economy.
Read also| India Rebukes UN Human Rights Chief's Remarks as 'Unfounded' and 'Cherry-Picked'
