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China announced on Wednesday that it will raise its defense budget by 7.2% this year, continuing its efforts to expand and modernize its military to strengthen territorial claims and challenge U.S. dominance in Asia’s defense landscape.
The budget, estimated at approximately $245 billion, was disclosed during the annual session of the National People’s Congress. However, U.S. defense analysts and experts suggest that China’s actual military expenditure could be at least 40% higher due to defense-related costs allocated under other budget categories.
While the percentage increase mirrors last year’s rise, it remains significantly lower than the double-digit growth seen in previous years, reflecting an overall economic slowdown. Chinese leaders have set a GDP growth target of around 5% for 2025.
Despite the slower rate of increase, China maintains the world’s second-largest military budget, trailing only the United States. The country also boasts the largest naval fleet globally, a key component in its strategic ambitions.
Tensions with the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and neighboring countries with competing claims over the South China Sea continue to drive advancements in China’s military capabilities, ranging from stealth fighter jets and aircraft carriers to nuclear weaponry.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the military wing of the ruling Communist Party, has built bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea but remains primarily focused on asserting control over Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, despite the island’s self-governance and strong ties with the United States.
On Wednesday, China deployed a relatively small contingent of five aircraft and seven naval vessels near Taiwan, following a much larger operation just days earlier involving dozens of warplanes. These maneuvers are part of Beijing’s strategy to wear down Taiwan’s defenses, which have been reinforced with upgraded U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter jets, tanks, missiles, and domestically developed weaponry.
Speaking at the National People’s Congress, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reiterated Beijing’s preference for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue but warned against any push for formal independence, vowing to oppose external interference.
Further updates will follow as more details emerge.
(AP)
