A few days ago, Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the annual session of the National People's Congress told a press conference that China's defense budget for 2011 would increase by 12.7 percent to 601.1 billion yuan ($91.5 billion). Not surprisingly, the news evoked certain "reasonable" response from the international community. Some even believe that the increase may lead to an arms race in Asia, and China seems to have become a new source for regional instability.

Whenever China increases its defense budget, some foreign observers use their imagination to misrepresent its national defense policy and strategic intentions, confusing international public opinion. The unfounded and deliberate misinformation is not worth responding to. But if some cases are not exposed, they could mislead the public.

The budget increase is timely and reasonable for modernizing Chinese forces and safeguarding the country's expanding national interests in the face of new challenges created by the changing international security environment.