China plans to expand its defence budget by about 7 percent. Fu Ying, spokesperson for the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) annual session, said the increase is in line with China's economic development and defence needs. The new increase could be the country's slowest defence budget rise in at least a decade. Her words came as China's economic growth registered a nearly three-decade low of 6.7 percent. Premier Li Keqiang will unveil the government's 2017 GDP target on Sunday. The exact figure for this year's defence budget is also expected to be released in a budget report Sunday.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)