A report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published recently indicates that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spent a total amount of US$1.36 billion last year to import weapon systems from various foreign nations – including Sweden.
Russia remains China’s largest foreign military supplier according to the report. Beijing spent a total of US$909 million to purchase weapons from Russia between 2013 and 2014.
Unknown to the public, NATO member France is currently China’s second most important arms supplier. A total of US$230 million was spent to purchase French weapons last year. Between 2009 and 2013, China was in fact the largest overseas military market for France.
And despite the European Union’s arms embargo on China, various western countries including the UK, Sweden and Germany provided weapons to the PLA.
While China spent US$40 million to purchase the second batch of LR7 rescue submarines from the UK, Germany made US$6 million from China om diesel engines designed to power battle tanks and submarines, and Sweden sold its fire-control radar and munition GDF35 anti-aircraft gun for US$65 million.
Source Want China Times
