A delegate from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) speaks to journalists as he and his comrades arrive to the Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. In a break with past practice, China has provided no exact figure for the defense budget at the opening of its annual legislative session, as National People's Congress spokeswoman Fu Ying on Saturday told reporters the budget would increase by about 7 percent over last year. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) - China's finance ministry said Sunday that the country's defense budget this year will top 1 trillion yuan ($145 billion) for the first time, after the exact figure was initially kept out of public documents released at the start of the country's annual legislative sessions.
The ministry put the figure at 1.044 trillion yuan ($151 billion), a 7 percent increase from last year, marking the smallest percentage annual growth rate this century.
A ministry information officer told The Associated Press the exact figure had already been released to the almost 3,000 delegates to the National People's Congress. But he didn't say why it had been withheld from the government budget report, where it usually appears. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.
On Saturday, congress spokeswoman Fu Ying told reporters the budget would increase around 7 percent in 2017 over last year.
The U.S. and others have routinely asked China to be more forthcoming about the goals of its ambitious military modernization program, under which the budget has grown by double-digit percentages for most of the past two decades. Other observers say actual military spending could be considerably higher because China doesn't include certain items such as the purchase of armaments from overseas.
China has the world's second-largest defense budget, although it is still only about one-quarter of what the U.S. spends. China has never provided a breakdown on how the money is spent, although it says most goes to improving living conditions for the troops.
Military analyst Ni Lexiong at Shanghai's University of Politics and Law said the modest growth rate of 7 percent demonstrates China's goodwill in avoiding conflicts and supporting regional stability.
It "shows China's sincerity of peace to the world," he added.
From front left, Wang Qishan, Yu Zhengsheng, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and Liu Yunshan stand during the start of the opening session of China's annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Bus ushers pose for photographs in front of the Great Hall of the People during the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged Sunday to make the country's smoggy skies blue again and "work faster" to address pollution caused by the burning of coal for heat and electricity. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Tung Chee-hwa, lower right, and current Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, left at second row, attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Delegates attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Minority delegates are surrounded by photographers as they arrive at the Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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Minority delegates arrive at the Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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Minority delegates take a selfie as they arrive outside the Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Associated Press
Delegates arrive at the Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Associated Press
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sips from cup as he delivers the work report at the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Sunday, March 5, 2017. China's top leadership as well as thousands of delegates from around the country are gathered at the Chinese capital for the annual legislature meetings. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The Associated Press