China has lifted its exports of arms by 143 per cent in five years to usurp Germany as the world’s third biggest trader, amid fears of the country’s increasing military might and role on the global stage.
The numbers, from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, are likely to cause further friction with neighbouring India, not least as China’s biggest client in the past five years was Pakistan, India’s rival in South Asia, which bought 41 per cent of China’s exports.
By far the bulk of arms were shipped to Asian neighbours, raising Beijing’s exports from 3 per cent of the global arms market in 2005-09 to 5 per cent in 2010-14, according to Sipri.
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