In brief: China boosts military spending

Beijing – Beijing announced a 12.7 percent increase in its military budget Friday, a substantial hike that is sure to add fuel to the global concerns over China’s rising military capability.

The double-digit increase comes after a tense year in which an increasingly confident China asserted its interests in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea, at times unnerving its neighbors and the United States.

Announcing the budget increase in the run-up to the National People’s Congress, Li Zhaoxing, a spokesman for the legislative gathering, tried to allay concerns.

“The limited military strength of China is solely for safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and would not pose a threat to any country,” said Li.

He said the government wants to improve weaponry, military training, human resource development and the living standards of soldiers. China’s People’s Liberation Army has 2.3 million soldiers.

Queen to make historic Irish visit

London – Queen Elizabeth II will make her first visit to the Republic of Ireland – the first ruling British monarch to go there in a century marked by Ireland’s brutal war of independence from Britain and the grueling conflict in Northern Ireland.

The long-anticipated visit by the 84-year-old queen will highlight Ireland’s reconciliation with its former colonial master and the slow blooming of peace in neighboring Northern Ireland.

Buckingham Palace and the Irish government confirmed the queen would visit this year, accompanied by her husband, the duke of Edinburgh. British and Irish officials said they were planning a three-day visit in May.

Most Irish politicians cheered the news. But the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party warned it was premature.