WASHINGTON: US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats warned onTuesday that China is spending “an extraordinary amount of money” toincrease its international standing, worrying its neighbours andthreatening US influence.

“A report was recently released, an unclassified version, that China willspend about $8 billion in 68 different nations establishing itsgeostrategic positioning, not only for economic purposes and tradepurposes, but also for use of military facilities,” Coats told a US Senatehearing on “Worldwide Threats.”

China on Monday unveiled its largest defence spending increase in threeyears, setting an 8.1 percent growth target this year, fuelling anambitious military modernization program.

US President Donald Trump has proposed the largest military budget since2011, focused on beefing up the United States’ nuclear defences andcountering the growing strength of China and Russia. – Agencies