China is the world's second-largest military spender, though it still lags considerably behind the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping has set the goal of achieving a "world-class" military by mid-century.
The increasingly assertive posture of the People's Liberation Army, its rapid buildup, and advances in naval, air and missile forces have prompted neighbors such as Japan to ramp up their own spending. They have also led the U.S. to label China its "pacing challenge," and raised concerns over a potential invasion of Beijing-claimed Taiwan.