BEIJING—China will spend 7.1 percent more on defense this year, outpacing last year’s hike and the Chinese regime’s modest economic growth forecast. Premier Li Keqiang pledged to enhance military training and combat readiness for the Chinese army, which is developing an array of weapons from stealth fighters to aircraft carriers. The spending figure, set at 1.45 trillion yuan ($229.47 billion) in the national budget released on Saturday, is closely watched by China’s neighbors and in Washington as a barometer of how aggressively the Chinese regime will beef up its military. This year’s 7.1 percent hike marks the seventh consecutive single-digit increase, but is the fastest pace since the 7.5 percent proposed for 2019. It also comes in above targeted slower economic growth of around 5.5 percent amid domestic headwinds for the world’s second largest economy, including a downturn in the country’s vast real estate sector and lackluster consumption. The Chinese …