China says it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead

Beijing's increase in military spending reflects an overall slowdown in the economy but keeps pace with the fast-changing trend in defence spending across the world. View on euronews

China will boost its defence spending by 7.2% this year, maintaining a steady growth rate as Beijing faces headwinds from three years of sluggish economic expansion and mounting geopolitical challenges from Taiwan to Ukraine.