(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) China on Wednesday expressed concern over Japan's record high military spending, hours after Tokyo approved the draft plan for fiscal 2015.
"We hope that the Japanese side can draw lessons from history, follow the path of peaceful development and work constructively to promote regional peace and stability," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a press conference, according to the ministry.
Hong's remarks come after Japan's Cabinet endorsed a JPY 4.98 trillion (USD 42 billion) defense budget for the next fiscal year starting from April 1. The defense budget was up 2.0 percent from the current fiscal year, rising for the third straight year amid China's growing maritime assertiveness around disputed islands in the East and South China seas.
"Japan's pursuit of peaceful development path, Japan's policies in the military and security field have always attracted great attention from its Asian neighbors and the international community," said Hong. The Japanese government plans to submit the draft budget to Parliament later this month.
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