The Ministry of Finance on Thursday proposed that 70.975 billion yuan (US$10.28 billion) be allocated for Beijing’s diplomatic spending in 2026, up 9.3 per cent from the previous year. It is the fifth consecutive year that China has increased its foreign affairs expenditure.
The planned budget rise of 9.3 per cent for Beijing’s foreign affairs spending this year is higher than the uptick in the military budget, set at 7 per cent. Last year, China increased its diplomatic budget by 8.4 per cent.
China’s additional diplomatic spending comes as global instability escalates, and the United States shows signs of withdrawing from its role as a world leader.
At the same time, [Premier] Li noted China’s diplomatic wins in 2025, saying the country had made ‘new advances in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics’.
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