Defence spending less than US, UK per capita: China

BEIJING: Claiming that its growing military spending was less than that of many major countries like the US, UK and Japan in terms of per capita expenditure, China today said the allocation to the world's largest armed forces was required to maintain the country's territorial integrity.

Refuting a report issued by UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think-thank that accused the communist nation of lack of transparency in its growing military spending, China said whole process is open and transparent.

"China's military expenditure in 2014 accounted for less than 1.5 per cent of GDP, which is not only well below major countries in the world, but also less than the world average of 2.6 per cent," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

"Our per capita military spending is even less, only one twenty-second that of the United States, one-ninth of Britain and one-fifth of Japan," she told a daily press briefing.

The development of China's military buildup is required for maintaining the country's territorial integrity and development as well as international and regional peace and security, she said, adding it is not directed against or pose a threat to any country.

Released yesterday, the report - an annual assessment of the military capabilities and defence economics of 171 countries worldwide - highlighted China's growing investment in maritime power-projection capabilities.

"China's annual defence budget is incorporated into the annual financial budget draft of the central government, and then submitted to the National People's Congress for approval," she said.

The whole process is open and transparent, and so are the total amount of the defence spending, its composition and other information, she said.

China's defence budget amounting to over USD 132 billion last year - up by 12.2 per cent - was next only to that of the US' nearly USD 550 billion. Hua said China has been mindful of controlling its military spending and making rational arrangements of the expenditure.