3x higher than India: At $245 billion, China hikes defence budget by 7.2%

China announced a 7.2% hike in its defence budget, bringing it to over $245 billion, reflecting its continued military modernization. This intensifies strategic challenges for the US and India, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, amid mounting geopolitical tensions. On the other hand, India’s defence budget remains constrained by operational shortfalls and spending limitations.