Why have China’s arms imports plummeted by 72% over the past 5 years?

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Seong Hyeon ChoiMarch 9, 2026 at 01:00 AM

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A new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that China's arms imports have decreased by 72% in the last five years (2021-2025). This decline is attributed to China's increasing reliance on domestically produced weapons technology, replacing the need for overseas purchases. While China's arms imports have significantly decreased, other countries in Asia and Oceania have increased their arms purchases, driven by concerns regarding China's strategic intentions. Despite this regional increase, overall arms imports in Asia and Oceania have decreased by 20% compared to the previous five-year period, largely due to reduced imports by China, South Korea, and Australia. This shift has resulted in China falling out of the top 10 global arms importers for the first time since 1991-95.