Chinese Military Spending To Increase By 7%

China has announced plans to increase its defence budget by around 7% this year.

It comes just days after President Donald Trump asked for a 10% increase in US military spending.

China spends more on its military than any other country except the United States, whose defence budget is four times bigger.

Government spokeswoman Fu Ying said China's military is purely for defence purposes and constitutes a force for stability in Asia.

Ms Fu went on to say:

"We advocate dialogue for peaceful resolutions, while at the same time we need to possess the ability to defend our sovereignty and interests.

"The strengthening of Chinese capabilities benefits the preservation of peace and security in this region, and not the opposite."