Asian countries build up their arsenals

China, India and South Korea, the three most vibrant economies in Asia are building up their military arsenal with new weapons systems from the US, Russia, Germany, France and the UK.

According to the latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the top five arms importers between 2007 and 2011 were Asian countries, ahead of the traditionally oil-rich Middle East.
India was the world's largest arms buyer, accounting for 10% of global arms imports, followed by South Korea (6%), Pakistan (5%), China (5%) and Singapore (4%).
The top five arms suppliers in 2007-2011 were the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
These top five suppliers account for 75% of all international arms transfers.
But major Asian importing states are also seeking to develop their own military industries in order to reduce their dependence on foreign arms supplies. But complete independence from arms imports is unlikely to be achieved. Even the United States, with the largest military industry and a strong military research base, sometimes imports major weapons, on the one hand because it is more profitable than producing them domestically, and on the other hand because the technology is not available.

Based on foreign press for ForTrader.org