Beijing, China - February 25, 2025 China's limited national defense spending is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday. Lin made the remarks in response to a media query about China's national defense spending. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Feb 25, 2025: 1. Various of press briefing in progress; reporters; 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lin Jian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "In recent years, global military spending has continued to rise. Statistics show that global military spending stood at 2.43 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, a new record high in history. Behind the continuous growth of global military spending is the ever more intensified international and regional security situation, highlighting a growing deficit in security at present. All parties are facing the common challenge of global security governance. The international community, major countries in particular, should set an example and take the lead in serving as the propeller of global unity and the ballast stone of international peace."; 3. Various of press briefing in progress; reporters; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lin Jian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "China has unswervingly adhered to the path of peaceful development. Its limited national defense spending is completely out of the need to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to maintain world peace. China has always pursued a strategy of self-defense and coordinated development of economy and national defense, and is not to engage in any arms race with any country. It has always safeguarded world peace in concrete action and continuously injected stability and certainty into the world."; 5. Press briefing in progress; reporters. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]