China responds to Japan's defense spending boost

BEIJING - China hopes Japan can reflect on history and pursue peaceful development, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, after the Japanese government announced plans to increase defense spending.

"Due to historical reasons, Japan's moves in the fields of military and security will always be of great concern to its neighboring countries in Asia," Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing.

The National Defense Division of the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan's ruling party, agreed on Monday to increase defense expenditures by about 120 billion yen ($1.37 billion) in the next fiscal year from 4.71 trillion yen under the initial budget for fiscal 2012, according to the Kyodo News Agency.