Beijing: China has decided to boost its defence spending by 7.2 per cent this year, which is already the world’s second-highest behind the United States at 1.6 trillion yuan ($222 billion), amid tensions with the US, Taiwan, Japan and neighbours who share claims to the disputed South China Sea. China also officially adopted tougher language against Taiwan as it released the budget figures, dropping the mention of “peaceful reunification” in a government work report.Beijing: China has decided to boost its defence spending by 7.2 per cent this year, which is already the world’s second-highest behind the United States at 1.6 trillion yuan ($222 billion), amid tensions with the US, Taiwan, Japan and neighbours who share claims to the disputed South China Sea. China also officially adopted tougher language against Taiwan as it released the budget figures, dropping the mention of “peaceful reunification” in a government work report.