China’s arms imports have plummeted by nearly two-thirds over the past five years as the country increasingly replaces foreign weaponry with domestically developed military technology, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Released on March 10, the report highlights a 64% decline in arms deliveries to China between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five-year period. This shift is attributed to China’s rapidly advancing defence industry, which has successfully developed and deployed local military systems, reducing reliance on Russian imports—a trend expected to continue.
Decades-Long Drive Toward Self-Sufficiency
Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher at SIPRI’s arms transfers program, noted that China’s transition from importing high-tech military equipment to producing its own has taken 30 years.
“In the last five years, the major imports from Russia were helicopters and engines—technologies that are extremely difficult to master without prior expertise,” Wezeman explained. “Now, China has broken through, manufacturing its own engines for combat aircraft, transport planes, and ships. It has also developed fully local helicopters, gradually phasing out imports from Russia and even European designs.”
Regional Impact: A Shift in Arms Trade Patterns
The decline in China’s imports has contributed to an overall 21% drop in arms shipments to Asia and Oceania, with the region’s share of global weapons imports falling from 41% in 2015–19 to 33% in 2020–24.
For the first time since 1990–94, China has dropped out of the world’s top 10 arms importers. Meanwhile, India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia have emerged as the region’s largest weapons buyers.
“While arms imports to Europe and the Middle East continue to dominate headlines, Asia and Oceania remain the world’s largest arms-importing region, as they have been for decades,” Wezeman noted. “Concerns over China’s growing military capabilities are a major factor driving defence procurement in the region.”
China’s Arms Exports: Pakistan Top Importer, but Limited Reach
Despite its declining imports, China remains a significant arms exporter. Between 2020 and 2024, 44 countries received Chinese weapons, with 77% of exports going to Asia and Oceania and 14% to Africa.
Pakistan stood out as China’s top buyer, receiving 63% of Beijing’s total arms exports. The country has become increasingly reliant on Chinese defence suppliers, with 81% of its imported weaponry in 2020–24 coming from China, up from 74% in the previous five years.
However, despite being the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, China saw a 5.4% decline in its total weapons shipments compared to 2015–19. Its share of global arms sales also dipped from 6.2% to 5.9%.
Political Barriers to Expansion
While China seeks to expand its arms exports, political considerations limit its access to key markets such as India, Japan, and the Middle East. Many countries avoid purchasing Chinese weapons to maintain strategic ties with the US and Western allies.
“Arms purchases aren’t just about acquiring weapons; they also establish political and military alliances,” Wezeman explained. “For example, many Middle Eastern nations prefer to buy from Western suppliers to strengthen their ties with the US and other NATO countries, which have a proven track record of military support.”
As a result, China’s defence exports remain largely confined to traditional allies like Pakistan, select African nations, and a few friendly states in Asia, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Team BharatShakti
