China Announces 7.2% Increase in Military Spending

The expanded budget aims to modernize the military while tensions rise over Taiwan and other regional disputes.

China's 2025 defense budget will grow by 7.2% to approximately 1.78 trillion yuan (231 billion euros), the second-largest in the world after the United States.
President Xi Jinping has committed to building a 'world-class military' by 2049, emphasizing modernization and national sovereignty as priorities.
The increased spending comes as China intensifies military activities around Taiwan, including naval exercises and airspace incursions.
Regional disputes, such as territorial claims in the South China Sea and border tensions with India, are contributing to China's military expansion.
China maintains its defense spending remains proportionally moderate at under 1.5% of GDP, significantly lower than the U.S., which allocates over 3%.