China voices concern over Japan's record military budget

BEIJING - China on Wednesday voiced concern over Japan's annual military budget.

Japan's Cabinet on Wednesday approved 4.98 trillion yen ($42.46 billion) of defense budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which starts in April, the country's largest ever and a 2 percent increase year on year.

Since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012, Japan's defense budget has seen an uptrend and could top 5 trillion yen in 2016, said media reports.

Japan's military and security policies have long drawn the attention of the international community, for it indicates Japan's future plans for peaceful development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing.

"We hope Japan will reflect on its history, follow the path of peaceful development and play a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability," he said.

The Japanese Cabinet will submit the budget to the parliament. Since Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito have majorities in both houses of parliament, the passage of the budget is almost certain, local media said.