China is now world's second-largest arms producer: study

Defense sector surpasses Russia's and behind top-ranked US

20200127N Chinese helicopters REUTERS

Helicopters from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are put on display during an exposition last October. © Reuters

MINORU SATAKE, Nikkei staff writer

LONDON -- China now boasts the world's second-largest arms industry, figures compiled by a Swedish institute show, surpassing Russia and trailing only the U.S.

Four of the Asian nation's defense contractors sold an estimated $54.1 billion in arms and military services in 2017, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a report out Monday.

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