President Trump’s recent speech to Congress has garnered positive feedback, especially with Democrats facing challenges. However, it’s crucial for the Trump administration to remain vigilant on various fronts. A key area of concern is China, a significant geopolitical rival to the United States. The President touched on China primarily in the context of tariffs and trade. Yet, China’s ambitions extend beyond economic matters, posing a potential threat to American interests.
On Wednesday, only hours after President Trump’s triumphant speech, China announced a major increase in their “defense” spending.
On Wednesday, China announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget for the year. The country is actively modernizing its military to bolster its territorial assertions and challenge the U.S.’s dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.
China’s military spending remains the second largest behind the U.S. and it already has the world’s largest navy.
The disclosed budget, amounting to approximately $245 billion, was revealed during the National People’s Congress, China’s annual legislative gathering. Despite this figure, experts suggest that China’s actual defense expenditure could be significantly higher, potentially surpassing 40% when accounting for other related expenses not explicitly stated in the budget.
The boost is the same percentage as last year, far below the double-digit percentage increases of previous years and reflecting an overall slowdown in the economy. The nation’s leaders have set a target of around 5% growth for this year.
Note the scare quotes in my writing above around “defense.” It isn’t defense that China is building up to. We should bear that firmly in mind. China is building a sword, not a shield.
