China’s Military Spending Masks Deep Corruption and Strategic Risks for America

As China convenes its annual legislative session under the cold shadow of internal upheaval, a seemingly modest slowdown in military spending conceals a far more troubling reality. This year, Beijing announced a 7% increase in defense spending—slightly lower than prior years’ 7.2% hikes—but behind this headline lies a fractured military leadership crippled by corruption scandals and purges. Is China’s Military Modernization as Stable as It Appears? The purportedly “reasonable” growth rate, as described by Chinese analysts, does not paint the full picture. While official data cites $277 billion in defense expenditure, independent observers warn this may understate actual outlays fueling...