China increases military spending in face of ‘escalating’ threats

At a gathering of its rubber-stamp parliament that will hand Xi Jinping a third term as president, China warned of “escalating” threats from abroad and announced on Sunday that its military spending would increase at the fastest rate in four years.

Since then, the 69-year-old Xi’s leadership has faced unexpected challenges and scrutiny, with protests over his zero-Covid policy and a deadly coronavirus surge after it was subsequently dropped.

 

But those issues are almost certain to be avoided at this week’s Beijing conclave, which will also see the unveiling of Xi confidant and former Shanghai party chief Li Qiang as the new premier.

 

Delegates to the NPC — and to the concurrent “political consultative conference” that began on Saturday — will also discuss issues ranging from the economic recovery to improved sex education in schools, according to state media reports.

 

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