SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
Defense spending is rising across East Asia as China’s expanding military power fuels regional concerns, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The world’s five biggest military spenders, the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India made up 60% of total spending, combining for $1.64 trillion.
Spending in Asia and Oceania reached $629 billion in 2024, up 6.3% from 2023, with East Asia alone seeing a 7.8% jump to $433 billion.
China accounted for half of Asia’s total defense spending, with an estimated $314 billion, a 7% increase from 2023, and its largest annual rise since 2015. This marks the 30th consecutive year of growth, as China pushes to modernize its military across all domains by 2035.
China’s buildup has led neighboring countries to bolster their own defenses. Japan raised its defense budget by 21% to $55.3 billion, its biggest increase since 1952, lifting defense spending to 1.4% of GDP, the highest since 1958. Japan’s plan focuses on enhancing long-range strike and air defense capabilities through 2027.
Meanwhile, Taiwan boosted its military spending by 1.8% to $16.5 billion, allocating a significant portion to upgrade F-16 jets, purchase U.S. naval systems, and develop anti-drone technologies amid heightened tensions with China.
China has announced that it has taken control of Sandy Cay reef, a disputed landform in the South China Sea, located just a few kilometers from a key Philippine military outpost. The reef, which China refers to as Tiexian Jiao, is also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Donald Trump's cabinet members sent mixed signals on whether tariff talks with China are underway, despite Trump's claims, fueling confusion as market instability and recession fears grow amid ongoing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Foreign ministers from Central Asia and China gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday for the sixth meeting under the Central Asia-China format, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and address shared challenges.
China and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging to boost cooperation across key sectors during the second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.
China, Russia and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday, focusing on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Denmark’s King Frederik began a visit to Greenland on Monday to reinforce ties with the semi-autonomous territory following U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to acquire the island.
Foreign ministers from the enlarged BRICS bloc met in Brasília on Thursday, where host Mauro Vieira urged the group to craft “practical pathways” for resolving global conflicts and strengthening multilateral security ahead of the leaders’ summit later this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants a lasting ceasefire to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
Kyiv on Monday said Moscow must immediately end hostilities in Ukraine if it genuinely desires peace, responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a unilateral three-day ceasefire.
Ten suspects, including elderly men dubbed the "grandpa gang," went on trial in Paris on charges of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
As Canadians head to the polls on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals are leading Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in national opinion polls, with Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) trailing in third and the separatist Bloc Québécois in fourth. In what is shaping up to be a tight r
The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor will begin on May 7. Here's a look at the key facts about the conclave, one of the oldest and most secretive elections in the world.
Germany is steadily losing export market share to China within the European Union, according to a report released Monday by the KfW Development Bank.
A major blackout across Spain and Portugal could last 6 to 10 hours, according to Red Electrica. While power is being restored in some areas, the cause of the outage remains unclear, with authorities considering the possibility of a cyberattack.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured NATO allies on Monday that Germany would enhance its military and infrastructure contributions to Europe's defense, in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing concerns over the U.S. commitment to European security.
Denmark’s King Frederik began a visit to Greenland on Monday to reinforce ties with the semi-autonomous territory following U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to acquire the island.
Foreign ministers from the enlarged BRICS bloc met in Brasília on Thursday, where host Mauro Vieira urged the group to craft “practical pathways” for resolving global conflicts and strengthening multilateral security ahead of the leaders’ summit later this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants a lasting ceasefire to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
Kyiv on Monday said Moscow must immediately end hostilities in Ukraine if it genuinely desires peace, responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a unilateral three-day ceasefire.
Ten suspects, including elderly men dubbed the "grandpa gang," went on trial in Paris on charges of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.
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