Environment and military budget: ‘must-answer’ questions at NPC briefing
Updated 10:57, 28-Jun-2018
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National People’s Congress (NPC) spokeswoman Fu Ying said on Saturday that China needs to further complete the legal framework on combating pollution, and addressed increases to the country's defense budget.
‍Fu, the first female spokesperson for the NPC, told reporters that environmental protection was a "must-answer" question from domestic media, while questions on the military budget were a 'must-answer’ from foreign journalists.‍
‘Must-answer’ questions
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Fifth Session of the 12th NPC, Fu said that combating air pollution is a long-term issue and the government needs to further strengthen regulations, admitting that the results of checking smog had failed to meet people’s expectations. 
After detailing China’s legal efforts in dealing with air, water and land pollution, she told journalists that China will increase the military budget by around seven percent in 2017, accounting for 1.3 percent of GDP.  
Fu said Chinese people don’t really understand criticisms of China’s military budget, as the US and US-backed NATO are both increasing defense spending.
The seven percent defense budget growth target is the slowest pace since 2010, down from 7.6 percent in 2016.
The administration of new US President Donald Trump has proposed a 10 percent jump in military spending in 2017, while NATO has pledged to increase its budget by two percent. 
Fu said defense spending for 2017 will stay at the same level as the past few years. The actual number for the budget will be released on Sunday. ‍
The spokeswoman dismissed concerns that China is militarizing.
"Look at the past decade or so; there have been so many conflicts, even wars, around the world resulting in serious, large numbers of casualties and loss of property, so many refugees destitute and homeless. Which one has China caused?" the veteran diplomat said.
Before serving as vice secretary of a NPC session, Fu served as China's ambassador in Australia and the UK from 2004 to 2009. 
China and neighboring countries have resumed dialogue on resolving the disputes in the South China Sea, Fu noted. She added that China is cautious about overseas intervention, referencing the meddling of the US in regional affairs.
“The freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is not threatened… the water is not one of high tension areas,” Fu said, citing UK scholars.
China-US relations
The China-US bilateral relationship was another hot topic during the press conference. 
Xinhua Photo‍

Xinhua Photo‍

Fu said China and the US are two big powers, and she understood why bilateral relations are closely watched.
Cooperation is the mainstream in the diplomatic trajectory, and President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump have had two telephone calls, Fu said, adding that she hopes changes made by Trump’s administration will boost ties.
China-India relations
Asked if the China-Pakistan Corridor harms India’s interests, Fu said the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative project will benefit regional economies including India. 
She added she’s positive about the future of the China-India relationship, with trade growing fast and cooperation on fighting terrorism developing.
The bilateral trade volume between China and India grew to 70 billion US dollars last year, from around two billion US dollars in the 1990s, she said, adding that the two biggest developing countries need more understanding in dealing with issues of common concern. 
Domestic issues
Among the domestic questions raised in the press conference, the spokeswoman reiterated the Chinese government’s determination in rooting out corruption.
She said China has launched anti-corruption systems in Beijing, Shanxi and Zhejiang, aiming to make the disciplinary institution more independent, with supervision commissions to oversee public officeholders, including within the judicial system. 

Kuhn: 2017 is critical for China 

Reporting from the press conference, CGTN's commentator Robert L. Kuhn said this year's NPC meeting is important, as 2017 is the mid-year towards China's goal to a moderately prosperous society by 2020 and the mid-year of the 13th Five-Year Plan. 
More importantly, the country will also have the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in autumn, which will set policies and leadership for the next five years, Kuhn said, and this year's meeting is a preliminary opportunity for leaders to present their ideas.