15 Countries With Highest Defense Spending and Largest Military Budgets

2. China

Military Spending: $215 Billion (estimated)

China is on the second spot among countries with highest defense spending and largest military budgets. China has significantly boosted its military spending over the last decade, as it advanced by 118% between 2007 and 2016 and was equal to 1.9% of its GDP last year. The country plans to further increase its defense budget by 7% this year due to the escalation of tensions between North Korea and other countries. The Chinese government has also been building artificial islands in the South China Sea in waters that are claimed by other nations, which led to a number of incidents between Chinese and U.S, Vietnamese, and Philippine ships. China is also involved in territorial disputes with Japan and is supporting the North Korean regime.

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