China spends more and more money on its military each year, but this year that growth rate will slow.

The country plans to spend 1.19 trillion ($177.54 billion) on national defense this year, a 7.5% increase compared to last year, according to an official report. In 2018, the country’s national defense budget growth was 8.1%. 

The budget will prioritize national defense and military reforms – new blueprints that are aimed at modernizing the country’s military. Beijing also hopes to improve welfare policies for veterans and increase related subsidies.

China’s 2018 defense budget accounted for roughly 1.3% of GDP, according to government spokesperson Zhang Yesui on Monday, which is still lower than those of some developed countries, many of whom regularly allocate over 2% of GDP to military spending.

“Maintaining a proper increase in the national defense budget is necessary to consolidate the country’s safety and to tailor related changes to our military,” Zhang said.

The growth of China’s national defense budget dipped below 10% in 2016, according to Zhang, who added that China’s “limited” national defense budget will only be used to secure the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and therefore will not be a threat to other countries.

Related: China’s Military Spending Tops 1 Trillion Yuan for First Time