East Asia milit spending rises most in 15 years, report shows

East Asia military spending rises most in 15 years, report shows East Asia military spending rises most in 15 years, report shows

TOKYO — Milit spending in East Asia jumped 7.8% on the year to $433 billion in 2024, a new report shows, as countries continued to enhance war-fighting capabilities amid heightening tensions in the region.

The annual increase was the largest since 2009, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). East Asia accounted for 69% of the $629 billion spent across Asia and Oceania as a whole.