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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China to boost military spending | China to boost military spending |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China says it will increase military spending by a "modest" 14.9% this year to 480.6bn yuan ($70.2bn; £50bn). | China says it will increase military spending by a "modest" 14.9% this year to 480.6bn yuan ($70.2bn; £50bn). |
| The money will pay for better salaries, modernisation, and "capacity building programmes" including counter-terrorism and disaster relief, a spokesman said. | The money will pay for better salaries, modernisation, and "capacity building programmes" including counter-terrorism and disaster relief, a spokesman said. |
| China's military is for self-protection and does not pose a threat to any country, said official Li Zhaoxing. | China's military is for self-protection and does not pose a threat to any country, said official Li Zhaoxing. |
| Analysts say defence spending is higher than the official figure, but Beijing says there are no hidden outlays. | Analysts say defence spending is higher than the official figure, but Beijing says there are no hidden outlays. |
| "There is no such thing as so-called hidden military expenditure in China," said Mr Li at a news conference in Beijing. | "There is no such thing as so-called hidden military expenditure in China," said Mr Li at a news conference in Beijing. |
| 'Relatively modest' | 'Relatively modest' |
| The new military budget was released on the eve of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament. | |
| Mr Li described the increase as modest, saying that China wanted to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity "and would not threaten any country". | Mr Li described the increase as modest, saying that China wanted to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity "and would not threaten any country". |
| Analysts say the increase marks the 19th double-digit boost in defence spending by China in the last 20 years. | Analysts say the increase marks the 19th double-digit boost in defence spending by China in the last 20 years. |
| Previous increases in defence spending have been greeted by alarm from China's neighbours and the US, who have voiced concerns over Beijing's modernisation of its military. | Previous increases in defence spending have been greeted by alarm from China's neighbours and the US, who have voiced concerns over Beijing's modernisation of its military. |
| The BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing says that many people in China point out that - per capita - China's spending is still relatively modest. | The BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing says that many people in China point out that - per capita - China's spending is still relatively modest. |
| They also say that China's military budget is still about eight times smaller than the military budget of the US, our correspondent adds. | They also say that China's military budget is still about eight times smaller than the military budget of the US, our correspondent adds. |
| The US military budget for 2009 has been pegged at $515bn, a 7.5% increase from 2008. That figure does not include billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. | The US military budget for 2009 has been pegged at $515bn, a 7.5% increase from 2008. That figure does not include billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. |