China boosts military spending by 7.2%, vows to ‘resolutely' deter Taiwan ‘separatist activities'

China is planning to increase its defense spending by 7.2% to 1.67 trillion yuan in 2024. This follows a series of annual budget increases in previous years. In addition to the budget report, Beijing expressed its opposition to separatist activities and external interference in its government work report. The announcement comes amid changes in the People’s Liberation Army leadership due to an anti-corruption probe. China’s military budget is the second largest in the world, and tensions have been escalating with neighboring countries over territorial disputes.