The UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported on June 5 that the Vietnamese parliament has ratified a project to boost maritime surveillance and a defense budget of US$7.5 billion.
The article stated that this is thought to be related to the ongoing territorial disputes over the South China Sea between China and Vietnam.
China's National Defense Information Network cited the weekly's report on June 10 and released the news on its website.
Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, deputy chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, announced on June 2 that the budget is intended to upgrade the Vietnamese coast guard and purchase assets for the fisheries bureau.
Read the full story at Want China Times