China's defense budget is much smaller than that of the United States despite the expected rise of 14.7 percent this year, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.

The per capita defense budget of China is only one-seventy- seventh that of the United States, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li made the remarks when answering a question raised by a reporter of Bloomberg based in the United States.

The increase will bring China's defense budget to 280.729 billion yuan (35 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006.

The budget increase is to strengthen China's capability of defense and response to emergencies, and to raise the pay of officers and soldiers, said a budget report submitted to the NPC session on Sunday.

The minister told the press conference that one should learn to see through the budget figure and seek basic facts behind the percentage when commenting on China's defense budget increase.

China has "transparent" military policies, which are " completely defensive in nature," Li said.

China's vast territory demands advanced military equipment, which in turn needs costly upgrade and reinforcement, said Guo Xinning, a researcher with the University of National Defense.

Compared with 17.8 percent of the United States, 11.4 percent of France and 9.25 percent of Germany, China's defense budget in 2005 accounted for only 7.34 percent of the budgeted fiscal expenditure, even lower than that in the 1970s, Guo said.

"The increase in military budget is actually an effort to narrow the gap," the expert said.

General Wang Yufa, an NPC deputy from the People's Liberation Army, said China adopts a defensive military strategy, and the defense budget is raised to create a stable and safe environment for the country's economic development.