Post by : Shakul

China has announced it will raise its national defence budget for 2026 by 7 per cent, a slight slowdown from last year’s 7.2 per cent increase, amid rising global security tensions and ongoing military modernisation efforts. The proposed defence spending for the year is approximately 1.91 trillion yuan (about US$276–277 billion), according to a draft budget report submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC).

The announcement was made during the opening session of China’s annual legislative meetings, commonly known as the Two Sessions, where Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report. This marks the 11th consecutive year the defence budget has grown at a single-digit rate, reflecting Beijing’s continued emphasis on measured increases.

Officials said the defence budget remains modest relative to China’s economic output, with spending still well below that of the United States, which maintains the world’s largest military budget. However, analysts closely watch the annual increase as a signal of China’s strategic priorities and military modernisation pace.

Premier Li reiterated that the armed forces will continue improving combat readiness, safeguarding national sovereignty, and advancing cross-service reforms. He stressed the Communist Party’s “absolute leadership” over the military and highlighted the importance of unified support for defence development across government and society.

China maintains that its military spending is defensive in nature, aimed at protecting territorial integrity — including its claims over Taiwan and areas in the South China Sea — even as tensions with the United States and other regional actors persist. The defence budget increase comes as China implements its 15th Five-Year Plan, which guides economic and strategic priorities through 2030.

Analysts note that the continuing rise in defence spending also comes amid uncertainties such as the Middle East conflict, which China says affects its energy security and diplomatic partnerships. China continues to pursue long-term goals of modernising its armed forces by 2035 and building a “world-class” military by mid-century.

#world news #Global News #Politics