China announces a 7% increase in the defense budget in 2026

The Ministry of Finance of China has published a budget report announcing an expenditure of 1,909.6 billion yuan (276.8 billion dollars) for defense in 2026.

This amount is approximately three times smaller than the defense budget of the United States, which stands at 997 billion dollars for 2024.

Foreign experts believe that the Chinese budget is underestimated, considering the actual expenditures, which will cover the increase in military salaries, training, maneuvers around Taiwan, cyber warfare capabilities, and the acquisition of advanced equipment.

The annual growth of China's defense budget has been consistent, hovering around 7-8% since 2016, despite recent purges in the military.

Alongside the USA and China, other countries with significant military expenditures include Russia, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and France.