China on Tuesday brushed aside foreign concern over its military build-up, insisting that it was a force for peace and stability in the world.

"China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. It safeguards its own lawful rights and interests, and also respects the lawful rights and interests of other countries," Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told reporters.

"We will always be a force for peace, cooperation and development."

On Sunday, China announced that military spending would rise 17.8 percent in 2007 to 350.9 billion yuan (about 45 billion dollars).

The United voiced alarm at the hike in spending. "This kind of spending not only concerns us but raises concerns among China's neighbors. This is inconsistent with China's policy of peaceful development," US national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Li said Tuesday that China had nothing to hide.

"We pursue a national defence policy (of) ... increased military transparency," he said at a press conference in the capital's Great Hall of the People, where China's parliament is holding its annual session.

In an address to parliament on Monday, Premier Wen Jiabao vowed that China would continue to strengthen its armed forces.

"Building a solid national defence system and a powerful people's army is a strategic task in socialist modernisation," Wen said.

Chinese military officials and outside analysts have said Beijing is beefing up its armed forces in part to be able to take back the island of Taiwan by force if necessary.