China to raise defense budget 7 percent in 2017, official says

BEIJING — China will raise its defense budget by about 7 percent this year, a government spokeswoman said Saturday, continuing a trend of lowered growth amid a slowing economy despite regional tensions over the South China Sea and other issues.

Total defense spending would account for about 1.3 percent of projected gross domestic project in 2017, said Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the legislature. She was speaking at a news conference on the eve of the opening of the body’s annual session.

The precise figure will be provided by Premier Li Keqiang in his address Sunday to the National People’s Congress.

Fu reiterated China’s contention that its military was for defense and constituted a force for stability in Asia. “We advocate dialogue for peaceful resolutions, while at the same time, we need to possess the ability to defend our sovereignty and interests,” Fu said. “The strengthening of Chinese capabilities benefits the preservation of peace and security in this region, and not the opposite.”

Depending on the final figure, this year’s budget could mark the third consecutive year of declines in defense spending growth rates, even while some observers say those figures don’t account for all military spending. The budget grew by 7.6 percent last year and 10.1 percent in 2015.

The increase of $9.7 billion would push the total defense budget to $145 billion — far behind the United States. President Donald Trump has asked for a 10 percent increase in U.S. defense spending this year, adding $54 billion to the budget that topped $600 billion last year.

ANDY WONG/AP Delegates from China’s People’s Liberation Army arrive Saturday to attend a plenary session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The congress opens Sunday.