China’s Surge in Military Self-Reliance: A Decrease in Arms Imports
SIPRI’s latest report reveals a 64 percent decline in China’s arms imports from 2020 to 2024, indicating a marked increase in military self-reliance. This shift results from the growth of China’s domestic weapons industry, which has successfully developed technologies to replace previously imported systems, particularly from Russia. Notably, China has made significant advancements in producing engines and other critical components.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report indicating a significant 64 percent decrease in arms deliveries to China between 2020 and 2024, compared to the previous five-year period. This decline is attributed to the rapid expansion of China’s domestic weapons industry, which has increasingly utilized locally developed systems in place of imported equipment, predominantly from Russia.
According to Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher with SIPRI’s arms transfers programme, China has taken three decades to transition from reliance on imported high-tech weaponry to domestically produced technologies. He stated that the remaining imports from Russia over the past five years primarily consisted of helicopters and engines, which are challenging to manufacture without expertise.
Wezeman noted that China has achieved self-sufficiency in producing engines for various military aircraft and ships. The same progress applies to helicopters, as China has successfully developed its own designs, reducing dependence on Russian imports and European models. This trend is expected to persist into the future as China’s military self-reliance continues to grow.
The SIPRI report highlights a transformative shift in China’s military procurement, emphasizing the country’s advance towards self-reliance in armament manufacturing. With a notable reduction in arms imports and significant domestic production capabilities, China is poised to enhance its defense technology independently, moving away from previous reliance on foreign military equipment.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
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