Asia buys the most guns

IMPORTS   RESEARCH

Regional – A study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found Asia to be the top importer of weapons in the world.

The institute, which specialises in arms control and disarmament matters, found Asia and Oceania accounted for 44% of imports, with India, South Korea, China, Pakistan and Singapore accounting for 30% of overall imports. India held the highest weapon volume of 10%.

The report said Europe held 19%, the Middle East had 17%, the Americas were at 11% and Africa was at 9%.

"Major Asian importing states are seeking to develop their own arms industries and decrease their reliance on external sources of supply," Peter Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, said.

China was the largest importer in 2002 to 2006, but fell to fourth place in 2007 to 2011, according to The Swedish Wire. This is due to Pakistan importing more arms from China, Paul Holtom, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, reported.

China is the sixth largest world weapons exporter, ranked behind the USA, Russia, Germany, France and Britain.

SIPRI also found in Singapore, defence products have been sold to Indonesia, Chad, Nigeria, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil since 2000, and has generated S$1.75 million in 2010 alone.

In general, AFP reported that import of weapons was 24% higher during the five-year period in 2007 to 2011, as compared to 2002 to 2006.

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