China Increases Defense Spending by 7.2%

China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget for the second consecutive year, raising military spending to 1.78 trillion yuan ($245 billion), according to the budget proposal presented at the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on Wednesday.

This increase matches last year’s defense spending growth, keeping China as the world’s second-largest military spender after the United States, as reported by the Associated Press.

The budget hike comes amid escalating tensions with the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and other nations with competing claims in the South China Sea.

China continues to invest heavily in high-tech military advancements, including stealth fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and nuclear weapons.

During the NPC session, Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed China’s preference for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue but strongly opposed any push for Taiwan’s formal independence or foreign support for such efforts.

Taiwan, which has operated under a separate government since 1949, is viewed by Beijing as a breakaway province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland.