Inside Story

What does China’s increased military spending mean?

The world’s largest army is getting a spending rise but the 7 percent increase is the smallest in years.

China’s increasing annual military spending by 7 percent, days after Donald Trump announced a 10 percent boost in the US defence budget.

The US president has criticised China’s territorial disputes with its neighbours.

What message is China sending regionally and globally?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Einar Tangen – a political and economic affairs analyst

Richard Weitz – a senior fellow and director of the Centre for Political-Military Analysis with the Hudson Institute

Richard Bitzinger – a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University