China plans to spend 7.2% more on its military this year, according to the draft budget presented at the National People’s Congress on Wednesday.
The increase in the defence budget to 1.78 trillion yuan (around $245 billion) was revealed at the opening of the congress in Beijing.
The government had increased its military budget by the same percentage last year.
The growth in defence spending comes amid tensions with Taiwan and Beijing’s expansive – and disputed – territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-ruled democracy part of its territory.
