China’s arms exports in 2008-2012 grew by 162 per cent compared to the previous five years, with most of them – 55 per cent – going to Pakistan, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report.
“China's rise has been driven primarily by large-scale arms acquisitions by Pakistan,” Paul Holtom, a research director at SIPRI said in a press release.
“A number of recent deals indicate that China is establishing itself as a significant arms supplier to a growing number of important recipient states.”
Pakistan has long been China’s key ally in South Asia. The report also named Myanmar, Bangladesh and Venezuela as importers of Chinese arms.
China had replaced UK on the list, gaining its highest position since the Cold War. It is the first time Britain has not figured in the top five weapons suppliers since 1950.
The global arms trade grew by 17 per cent in 2008-2012 over the previous period, the report said, with the US and Russia still the main exporters, holding market shares of 30 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.
They were followed by Germany and France in the rankings.
European countries beset by economic troubles were attempting to re-sell recently acquired combat aircraft to cut costs, the report added, with Portugal and Spain looking for buyers for F-16 and Eurofighter aircraft respectively.
East Asian countries are seeking to boost their naval capabilities amid territorial disputes, the document said, adding that the top five importers of major conventional weapons worldwide were all Asian.
China has boosted its domestic weapons production since it faced bans on western military imports following the crushed Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Beijing does not release arms export figures.
COMMENTS (9)
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Jat
All the stockpile of arms is for India chil dude
So, are we paying for the Chinese military hardware? I though it was for free.
Hope the quality will be better than the China made mobile phones........
All this is well and good, but what is Pakistan doing with all these weapons ? They are certainly not fighting the terrorists, who conquer some more ideological and geographical territory everyday. Even today one big blast in Peshawar courtroom and one Shia professor killed in Karachi.
The Pak Army is gradually retreating into its barracks, with no will to fight back. What good are all these weapons if they can't protect the lives of ordinary Pakistanis ?
Can we have some power plants please.
you see my friends, these arms are useless in such kinds of attack which Pakistan is experiencing now a days. It's not the right time to invest in such arsenal.
Why USA and other countries concern, USA still biggest exports of arms in the wold. We wish China will do more and more, We are lucky to have China our good friend
I think even I am sure that every country does have the equal rights to get the advancements and developments in every sector and to trade with every country every thing not only the US and other advanced Western countries do have..... Very well done China and never forget that China is the next superpower of the world in the economical field......
I think even I am sure that every country does have the equal rights to get the advancements and developments in every sector and to trade with every country every thing not only the US and other advanced Western countries do have.....