China’s military budget for 2013 unveiled

The budget report submitted to the national legislature for review unveiled China's military budget for 2013.

As for the report, China plans to raise its defense budget by 10.7 percent to 720.2 billion yuan, or some 115 billion US dollars for 2013. It is the third consecutive year that the budget has seen an increase. But this year's increase is a bit lower than the 11.2% last year.

The military spending will be used to improve living and working conditions of service people, make the armed forces more mechanized and information based, and safeguard national security. Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, has said the PLA must be able to combat and win battle.

The PLA has reiterated that its strength building is ONLY for defensive purposes.

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