China Refrains From Releasing Military Spending Target
- Figure not released during annual legislative news briefing
- Highlights lack of information about Xi’s growing military
Military delegates leave the Great Hall of the People following a group session at the first session of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, China, on March 4.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergChina withheld release of its annual military-spending target during an annual news conference, breaking with a practice that provided a key glimpse into the world’s second-largest defense budget.
National People’s Congress spokesman Zhang Yesui sidestepped a question about the figure at a briefing Sunday ahead of the annual legislative session in Beijing, saying defense spending had increased to make up for past shortcomings. The figure could be released as soon as Monday, when the legislature is expected to receive a Ministry of Finance report at the start of its session.