The government is expected today to issue a white paper reviewing China's national defence situation in 2006.

The document will provide a comprehensive picture of China's national defence and the military modernization drive over the last two years.

The fifth white paper on national defence since 1998 contains 10 chapters with three appendices, and focuses on the security situation, the national defence policy, development of the armed forces and industry and technology for national defence, the national defence budget and international security co-operation. The white paper is issued twice a year.

Netizens can today log on to the China Daily website, www.ming7.cn, to read the full text of the white paper.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/29/2006 page1)