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China has announced a defense budget of $275 billion for 2026, up $25 billion from the previous year. This increase reflects Beijing's ongoing effort to modernize its military capabilities and close the technological gap with the United States.

Premier Li Qiang presented the budget during the National People's Congress, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. China's military spending is now more than three times larger than India's. Despite this surge, officials claim that military expenditure remains moderate when compared to global indicators.

Neighboring countries are likely to increase their defense budgets in response to regional security dynamics. Alongside the defense budget, China has set a GDP growth target of 4.5% to 5%, lower than previous years, indicating a balancing act between economic stability and defense investments.