China's Defense Spending Thread

[Dante80]

I see zero reasons for China moving away from the norm in the short term, as far as military budget YoY increases are concerned.

One of the reasons that as a communist I really respect the CPC. They are laser focused on what is actually important. Serving the people.

 

[NorthKimBestKim]

PRC better increase the budget tomorrow by a LOT. Every enemy is spending more and more, which means, the increase PRC had over the past few years has already been neutralized.

One of the things that should be written in the PRC Law should be: The People's Republic must uphold the world's largest military budget since PRC has the world's largest GDP PPP and does produce its own weapons systems.

This is simple as it can get. The U.S. Imperial Terror still has the worlds largest defence budget, but they are no longer the largest GDP PPP economy. It is time for PRC to take its rightful place in this category.

There could not be more clear signs that it is already today in regards to how severe and dangerous today's situation is. Aggressive Japan, agressive racist White Supremacy Trump regime along with DPP-extremists in Taipei, and you can mix that a bit with a growing turds in New Delhi with their Hindutva regime.

The PRC must utilize its unique position right now whilst the U.S. and Japan are streched economically, and whilst Hindutvas are still weak. Because the facts are, even thought the U.S. and Japan are streched out economically, they give a fvcks about it as they are spending more and more on the military.

The PRC cannot sit and watch this on stand-by. Just over the past 2 months, the Empire has kidnapped a president of a sovereign country, is killing its people on the open seas outside Venezuela, along with breaking down Cuba, and attacking Iran for the 2nd time over the past 8 months. And there was also the Pakistan - Hindutva regime clash last year as well.

If PRC continues to ignore this, then PRC won't have a safe future onwards.

 

[vincent]

No US passport. Just common sense from an adult. Little children think money grow on trees and the US actions are all recent. Adults can remember all the sanctions and military actions in Taiwan Strait in the 1990's. Little children read some current news and over-reacts.

Resort to belittle others. Classy.

 

[Wangxi]

I see zero reasons for China moving away from the norm in the short term, as far as military budget YoY increases are concerned.

One of the reasons that as a communist I really respect the CPC. They are laser focused on what is actually important. Serving the people.

I disagree. The strategic environment is changing quickly, and China cannot assume stability will continue.

The PLA is not just a military force; it is one of the pillars of the Chinese state and played a central role in the founding and survival of the PRC. Ensuring its strength is directly tied to national security and sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the U.S., Japan, and others in the region are significantly increasing their military spending. Japan alone is moving toward doubling its defense budget to around 2% of GDP.

In that context, maintaining the same growth pattern may not be sufficient. If others accelerate their military expansion, China must ensure the PLA keeps pace with the evolving strategic environment.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

I disagree. The strategic environment is changing quickly, and China cannot assume stability will continue.

The PLA is not just a military force; it is one of the pillars of the Chinese state and played a central role in the founding and survival of the PRC. Ensuring its strength is directly tied to national security and sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the U.S., Japan, and others in the region are significantly increasing their military spending. Japan alone is moving toward doubling its defense budget to around 2% of GDP.

In that context, maintaining the same growth pattern may not be sufficient. If others accelerate their military expansion, China must ensure the PLA keeps pace with the evolving strategic environment.

We have no idea behind the true spending of China on military stuff.

Like, sure they have the official ~1.4 isn't they publically quote that grows with 6-8% a year.
But they it likely does not encompass everything, such as soldiers pensions, benefits, research etc.

Not to mention, at end of the day, the deciding factor is not % of gdp spent, but actually how much that gets you.

As in hardware (from all the various missiles to ships, planes, vehicles etc.), soldiers etc.

And well, in hardware we can clearly see China getting more than US and Japan, and I'm pretty sure they have enough missile stock to wipeout US and Japans bases, would be very strange for PLA to not consider that, especially after recent conflicts in the last 5ish years.

 

[FriedRiceNSpice]

Military power is derived from technological, scientific, industrial, logistical, and state capacity, as well as the spirit and cohesion of the people and military- not increasing the military budget. Obviously, a certain level of peacetime military spending is required to maintain readiness and deter aggression, but beyond that spending more on military in peacetime is a suboptimal security investment. That said, the official budget does appear a bit lower than would be expected, and is likely more a PR number than real military spending.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Before Feb 28: Trump is hiking US defense budget by 500 billion dollars? He must be serious about countering the PRC!

After Feb 28: Operation Epstein Fury is really expensive…

 

[FriedButter]

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China to reportedly boost defense spending by 7%, slowest pace since 2021​

BEIJING — China plans to increase its defense spending by 7% this year, Reuters reported Thursday, citing official documents due for public release later in the day.

That would mark the slowest increase in its annual military expenditure since 2021.

The proposal comes as conflict in the Middle East has escalated, amid a broader rise in geopolitical tensions.

For the last three years, China has budgeted a 7.2% annual increase in defense spending. Beijing had increased spending by 7.1% in 2022 and 6.8% in 2021, according to official data.

China will support the faster development of advanced combat capabilities, Reuters said, as well as the “high-quality” modernization of its national defense and armed forces.

Some of Beijing’s latest weapon systems, including long-range missiles, were displayed during a military parade in September.

China is set to kick off its 8-day National People’s Congress on Thursday, an annual parliamentary meeting that officially approves the budget and development goals for the year.

Last year, China proposed a national defense budget of 1.78 trillion yuan ($244.99 billion at the time).

Beijing accounted for nearly 44% of Asia’s defense spending in 2025, up from 39% in 2017, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

China is also second to the U.S. in terms of military spending.

The U.S. budgeted $849.77 billion for defense during the 2025 fiscal year. But estimates from non-profit USAFacts indicate the U.S. ended up spending about $919.2 billion during that time, up 2% from the prior year and accounting for 13% of the federal budget.

About as everyone expected. -0.2% lower than previously.

 

[LCR34]

I see zero reasons for China moving away from the norm in the short term, as far as military budget YoY increases are concerned.

One of the reasons that as a communist I really respect the CPC. They are laser focused on what is actually important. Serving the people.

CPC is not really communist per se, modern socialist at best.

 

[NorthKimBestKim]

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About as everyone expected. -0.2% lower than previously.

I think I'm gonna be sick. Should be 70%, not 7%.

The only ones pulling above their weight and fighting the Empire directly and other sickos are Russia, DPRK and Pakistan. But they cannot hold out alone forever whilst PRC is doing soft and weak 7% increase.
Even Algeria who is pro-Russia and pro-PRC friendly is doing it's part when it comes to defence spending.
Whilst Iran is fighting for its life.
The list is truly getting short here regarding countries that still have a back bone in any kind of sense.