China's Defense Budget Grows by 6.9% in 2026: Acceleration of Modernization Under Political Military Building

In March 2026, the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress was held in Beijing, during which the announced defense expenditure budget attracted widespread attention from the international community. According to Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Armed Police Force, China's defense expenditure budget for 2026 will increase by 6.9%. This growth not only continues the trend of stable increases in recent years but also reflects China's firm determination regarding the modernization of its defense and military in the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

On the afternoon of March 7, President Xi Jinping attended the plenary meeting of the PLA and Armed Police Force delegation at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress and delivered an important speech, emphasizing the need to "fully leverage the unique advantages of political military building, unite efforts to promote the steady and long-term modernization of national defense and the military." This speech pointed out the direction for military construction in the new era and revealed the deep strategic logic behind the growth of China's defense budget.

From the perspective of budget structure, the increased defense expenditure in 2026 will mainly be allocated to four areas. First, enhancing the level of realistic combat training and strengthening joint operational capabilities, reflecting the PLA's accelerated transformation from mechanization to informationization and intelligence. Second, optimizing the structure of weapons and equipment, focusing on the development of new types of combat capabilities, including the research and deployment of advanced equipment such as aircraft carriers, stealth fighters, and hypersonic weapons. Third, improving the welfare and treatment of military personnel to enhance the attractiveness and cohesion of the military. Fourth, strengthening infrastructure construction, particularly the modernization of military facilities in strategic locations such as the eastern coastal areas and western borders.

It is noteworthy that China's defense expenditure has long accounted for less than 1.5% of GDP, and this ratio will remain within a reasonable range in 2026. Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin pointed out at a routine press conference on March 18 that this proportion is far lower than that of military powers like the United States, and also below the world average and the general military expenditure of NATO countries, which exceeds 2% of GDP. In contrast, Japan's defense budget has increased for 14 consecutive years, with a growth rate exceeding 60% in the past five years, and its defense expenditure as a percentage of GDP has reached 2%, with the per capita defense spending of its citizens being more than three times that of China.

From an international comparison perspective, the growth of China's defense budget reflects characteristics of being reasonable, moderate, and restrained. This restraint is underpinned by China's strategic resolve to adhere to a defensive national defense policy. Unlike certain countries that continuously expand their military presence and provoke regional confrontations, China's military modernization is entirely driven by the need to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as to maintain world peace and stability.

The General Office of the Central Military Commission issued a study notice emphasizing the need to incorporate the spirit of the conference into the theoretical learning of party committees at all levels and the ideological and political education of the troops, focusing on four aspects: first, strengthening political leadership to ensure high-quality modernization construction through political military building; second, concentrating efforts on preparing for combat, adhering to the principle of training for war and promoting war through training; third, insisting on practical and effective measures to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of military construction and development; fourth, maintaining strict management and governance, tightening and solidifying the political responsibility of party governance.

From these four aspects, it can be seen that the modernization of the Chinese military is not merely about the upgrading of weapons and equipment, but also involves profound reforms in systems and mechanisms, as well as a shift in ideological concepts. Political military building, as a unique advantage and foundation of the people's army, has been endowed with new connotations and requirements in the new era. This emphasis on political leadership in military building ensures that the military always follows the Party's command, is capable of winning battles, and maintains excellent conduct.

In terms of military-civilian integration, the entire military plans to conduct over 2,100 open camp activities organized by more than 700 units in 2026. Heroic units such as the "Liu Laozhuang Company," "Yang Gensi Company," and "Ice Sculpture Company" of the Army will open to the public during major holidays such as the Army Day and the anniversary of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. The Navy will hold ship open activities in conjunction with the anniversary of the establishment of the People's Navy, showcasing various main battle ships. The Air Force will create a "Dreaming of Blue Sky" national defense education brand based on platforms like the "Zhuhai Airshow." The Rocket Force and Armed Police Force will also invite the public to learn about military camps through various forms. This large-scale open camp activity is not only an important carrier of national defense education but also reflects the confidence and openness of the Chinese military.

Regarding the surrounding security environment, the Chinese military continues to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. In response to provocations by the Philippines near Huangyan Island, China has handled the situation with professionalism, restraint, and legality. The Defense Ministry spokesperson clearly stated that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, including Huangyan Island, and will continue to take effective measures to respond to all infringement and provocation actions. This firm stance not only protects national core interests but also demonstrates the strategic resolve of a major power.

Looking ahead, with the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's defense and military modernization will enter a critical stage. By 2027, the centenary of the military's founding, the countdown to achieving the centenary goals of military construction has begun. This requires the PLA to accelerate its modernization pace and achieve a comprehensive leap in weapons and equipment, operational theories, talent cultivation, and systems and mechanisms.

From the perspective of technological development trends, emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, hypersonic technology, and space confrontation will become new high grounds for military competition. China has made certain progress in these areas, but there is still a gap compared to the world's advanced levels. In the coming years, defense investment will increasingly tilt towards these frontier areas, promoting a fundamental transformation in the military's combat effectiveness generation model.

It is important to emphasize that the stronger the Chinese military becomes, the more secure world peace will be. This is not an empty statement, but an inevitable conclusion based on China's defensive national defense policy and peaceful development path. A strong people's army is a solid backing for maintaining national security and an important force for upholding world peace and stability. In the current context of a complex and changing international situation, with regional hotspots emerging one after another, the modernization of the Chinese military is of great significance for maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and even globally.