China's military expenditure for 2024 would increase by 7.2 per cent, marking the biggest jump in five years, amid escalating tension with neighbours.
The Asian giant's defence budget would rise to 1.67 trillion yuan (£181.7bn), according to the annual finance ministry report released at the National People's Congress.
China's defence budget in 2023 was set at 1.5 trillion yuan (£177.1bn), making it the world's second-highest behind the US. Joe Biden late last year signed a £698bn defence bill to boost its military spending.
Beijing's defence budget is closely watched by its critical neighbours and the US, who are wary about China's strategic intentions and the development of its armed forces.
Tension has been rife in the Asian subcontinent over China's rapidly rising aggression towards self-governed Taiwan and Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea, which has been routinely condemned by its neighbours, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has set a 2027 deadline for the military to become a “world-class force”, overcoming the mounting pressure to eradicate corruption from the military. At least 1.73 million corruption cases were registered in 2023 despite Mr Xi's war on graft, according to Nikkei Asia.
The Chinese Communist Party last year fired defence minister General Li Shangfu and two Rocket Force generals without any explanation.
China has the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with over two million active soldiers and 510,000 in reserve. The nation has maintained a single-digit growth in its annual defence budget since 2016.
The official budget figure announced Tuesday at the opening session of the rubber-stamp legislature's annual meeting is considered by many foreign experts to be only a fraction of spending by the People's Liberation Army.
Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th NPC, told Global Times that compared with major military powers such as the US, China's defence spending was "quite low, whether as a percentage of GDP or in terms of per capita and per-serviceperson".
In a separate report, China said it would "resolutely oppose separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' and external interference".
The work report also said China would "be firm in advancing the cause of China reunification", dropping the mention of "peaceful reunification" in previous reports.
