BEIJING - China will strengthen national defense education with a focus on safeguarding maritime rights, the national defense education office said on Monday.

The protection of maritime rights and interests, as well as national security in general, will be highlighted in defense education for 2013, according to a circular issued by the office.

Defense education will be included in teaching plans for elementary and secondary schools across the nation in order to make defense knowledge more universal, the circular said.

The office said more efforts are needed to promote defense education in coastal regions and ethnic minority areas along China's border.

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