BOFIT Viikkokatsaus / BOFIT Weekly Review 2016/08
With China increasing its own arms production capabilities, the volume of arms imports fell by about 25 % in 2011–2015 compared to the previous five-year period. Although the country’s share of global arms imports has declined below 5 %, it is still the world’s third-biggest weapons buyer after India (14 %) and Saudi Arabia (7 %). China is still dependent on foreign technology for air defence, helicopters and cargo aircraft, as well as aircraft and ship engines. Engines accounted for about a third of arms imports.
Last year, China agreed to buy from Russia sophisticated air-defence missile systems and 24 Su-35 fighters – the first international sale of these fighters. The fighter sale is valued at $2 billion. SIPRI reports that despite a long-term decreasing trend, Russia still supplies 59 % of China’s arms imports, while France accounts for 15 % and Ukraine 14 %.