China says to boost defense spending in 2009

BEIJING (AP) - China announced plans Wednesday to boost military spending by 14.9 percent this year, but noted that much of it was for salaries and said there was no need for other countries to be fearful.
National People's Congress spokesman Li Zhaoxing described the increase as "modest" in a news conference to announce the agenda for China's annual legislature, which opens Thursday.
Li said the said the increase would not pose a threat to any country, and that much of it would go to salaries and benefits for China's 2.3 million-strong military force, the world's largest.More