Staying on the topic of China versus the U.S. in this region...
Beijing says its military spending will grow by the smallest increase in six years in 2016.
Some experts say... it reflects China′s willingness to demonstrate to the West， including the U.S. that China sincerely wants to solve problems through peaceful means.
But， there is no denying that it also reflects China′s slowing economy.
Hwang Ji－hye reports.
China says... its defense budget for 2016 will rise at the slowest pace since 2010，... adding the weaker growth in military spending reflects the state of its economy.
″This year China′s defense budget will maintain growth， but the amount of growth will be lower than last year′s， between 7 to 8 percent.″
Although the estimate announced on Friday remains higher than China′s expected economic growth target of 6－and－a－half to seven percent for this year，... it′s much lower than what was widely expected in military and diplomatic circles.
They predicted the figure to reach an impressive rise of 20 to 30 percent.
The defense budget has been posting a double－digit growth for the past five years，... with that of last year increasing more than 10 percent.
Over mounting tensions with the United States in the South China Sea，... Beijing accused Washington of militarizing the hotly contested waters... by deploying ships and aircraft.
″Expanding construction in the South China Sea is necessary. This is something that the Chinese people support. These islands are considered to be part our country and should be defended. Defense installations are a necessity.″
The United States have conducted a so－called ″freedom of navigation″ operations near islands that China controls in the sea.
China has been carrying out controversial reclamation work in the islands， while stationing advanced weapons.
The actual figure of China′s military budget will be released on Saturday，... when the annual meeting of China′s legislative body opens.
Hwang Ji－hye， Arirang News.
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