The administration of US President Joe Biden on Friday proposed $753 billion for national defense programs in fiscal 2022, a 1.7 percent increase from the current fiscal year, as part of efforts to ensure military capabilities to counter China.

In total, the administration sought $1.5 trillion for the year starting Oct. 1, up 8.4 percent, with an emphasis on education, health care and measures to address climate change, according to an overview of Biden's request for the so-called discretionary funding.