US military budget near record level

BEIJING / WASHINGTON - Analysts warned that instability may increase in the Asia-Pacific region if the US Congress approves the nation's increased defense budget.

The defense budget for the 2012 fiscal year, which President Barack Obama sent to Congress on Monday, will rise to a new record despite a significant reduction in overall federal spending.

It is set to increase by $4.2 billion from the level the Obama administration requested for the 2011 fiscal year, which was never approved by Congress, leaving expenditure at 2010 levels under a temporary spending bill.