The World - News from March 30, 1986

China’s defense budget will grow at a slower rate than overall government spending during 1986-90, falling from a 13.1% share of the budget to 9.1%, the official media said. The reports said Finance Minister Wang Bingqian presented a draft budget for 1986 to the National People’s Congress on Wednesday that included $6.25 billion for defense, a 4.5% increase over 1985. However, the draft budget calls for an increase in overall state spending for 1986 by 17%. The budget allocated $32 billion for defense during 1986-90, or 9.1% of the total planned expenditures of $350 billion. China devoted 13.1% of its budget to defense during 1981-85.