China's military no threat to other countries: advisory body spokesman

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China's modern military forces would not pose threat to any other country, said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Tuesday.

China's development of its military is completely for the sake of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhao said at a press conference of the top political advisory body's annual full session, which will open Wednesday.

National defense budget has accounted for around 1.4 to 1.5 percent of China's gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years, a percentage of medium level among all countries, Zhao said.

The budget has mainly been used to raise salaries of officers and soldiers and on replenishment, research and development, he said.

This year's national defense budget will be made public during the upcoming annual session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.