News Flash Daily
05 March 
Beijing Raises Defence Spending by Nearly $25 Billion as Premier Li Qiang Unveils Plan During National People’s Congress
Beijing: China on Thursday announced a significant increase in its annual defence spending, raising the budget to approximately USD 275 billion as the country continues to accelerate the modernisation of its armed forces amid intensifying geopolitical competition, particularly with the United States Armed Forces.
The new defence allocation was revealed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang while presenting the government’s annual work report during the ongoing session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislative body.
According to the report, the government plans to allocate around 1.9 trillion yuan (approximately USD 275 billion) for national defence in the current fiscal year. This marks an increase of nearly USD 25 billion compared to last year’s military budget, reflecting Beijing’s continued push to strengthen its military capabilities.
China Accelerates Military Modernisation
The increased spending comes as China seeks to enhance the technological sophistication and operational readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The government has repeatedly emphasised the need to transform the armed forces into a world-class military power capable of safeguarding national sovereignty and strategic interests.
China has invested heavily in advanced weapon systems, cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, naval expansion, and missile technology, part of a broader strategy aimed at modernising the military by the middle of the century.
Government Says Defence Spending Remains “Modest”
Despite the increase, the Chinese government maintained that its defence expenditure remains relatively moderate when measured against several key indicators.
“China’s defence spending remains comparatively modest across major indicators, including its share of GDP, per capita defence expenditure, and defence spending per military personnel,” the government report stated.
Officials argued that the country’s defence budget is proportionate to its security requirements and economic scale, rejecting concerns raised by some international observers about rapid military expansion.
Global Strategic Context
China’s defence budget is the second largest in the world, though it still trails the spending levels of the United States. Analysts note that Beijing’s steady annual increases signal a long-term commitment to closing the military capability gap with Washington, particularly in areas such as naval power, space technology, and strategic deterrence.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened global security tensions, with regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific increasingly shaped by strategic competition among major powers.
While Chinese authorities continue to describe their military policy as defensive in nature, the expansion of defence spending is closely monitored by neighbouring countries and global defence analysts.
