China replaces Britain in world's top five arms exporters: report

[jsr]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - China has become the world's fifth-largest arms exporter, a respected Sweden-based think tank said on Monday, its highest ranking since the Cold War, with Pakistan the main recipient.

China's volume of weapons exports between 2008 and 2012 rose 162 percent compared to the previous five year period, with its share of the global arms trade rising from 2 percent to 5 percent, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

China replaces Britain in the top five arms-dealing countries between 2008 and 2012, a group dominated by the United States and Russia, which accounted for 30 percent and 26 percent of weapons exports, SIPRI said.

"China is establishing itself as a significant arms supplier to a growing number of important recipient states," Paul Holtom, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program, said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/18/us-china-arms-exports-idUSBRE92G0L120130318

[Poll_Blind]

1. Man, I wonder who's number one on that list of bastards...?

PB

[valerief]

2. Octopussy America sells the most arms. nt

[grahamhgreen]

3. So let's sign more costly trade agreements. What fools the "free traitors" are.

More jobs to the country that will one day eat our lunch.
Brilliant.

[olddots]

4. hey we're still number one Hurray !

The only winners in a war are the scum that supply the weapons .

[Franker65]

5. China's arms industry is maturing

It was inevitable that China would catch up - I'm actually surprised it took this long to be honest. Still, if you look at the market share of Chinese arms exports, it's still quite a long way behind the United States and Russia. Long regarded as inferior and cheap copies, Chinese weapons are now more highly regarded. The FN-6 missile system has turned up in Syria and is performing well. The emergence of equipment like the J-10 are going to elevate China's placement considerably in the future.