China defense budget

China defense budget

Military delegates walk at Tiananmen Square ahead of the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 4, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Go Nakamura

China boosts defence spending 7% in drive to modernise by 2035

Security analysts and regional military attaches are watching China's budget closely as it scrambles to modernise the military by 2035, while stepping up deployments across East Asia and...

Military delegates attend the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on 5 March 2022. REUTERS

China plans 7.1% defence spending rise this year, outpacing GDP target