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Weapons imports cost US$1bn last year

Taiwan imported US$1.1 billion-worth of conventional arms last year, placing it seventh among the developing nations, while China imported US$2.7 billion-worth, or third in value, according to a newly released US congressional study.

The Congressional Research Service's Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1997-2004 report shows that last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led the pack of developing nations by importing US$3.6 billion-worth of conventional arms, surpassing Saudi Arabia, which imported arms worth US$3.2 billion.

China was the third-largest importer of conventional arms last year, paying US$2.7 billion, followed by India (US$1.7 billion), Egypt (US$1.7 billion), Israel (US$1.5 billion), Taiwan (US$ 1.1 billion), Pakistan (US$0.9 billion), South Korea (US$0.8 billion) and South Africa (US$0.5 billion).

During the 1997-2000 period, the report says, Taiwan imported US$7.3 billion-worth of conventional arms, second only to Saudi Arabia's US$35.7 billion among the developing nations. South Korea was third with US$5.1 billion and China was sixth with US$4.2 billion.

For the period from 2001 to last year, Taiwan's imports of conventional arms dropped to the sixth in ranking at a value of US$3.9 billion, while China was in second place with US$8.8 billion.

For the period from 1997 to last year, Saudi Arabia was the No.1 importer of conventional arms (US$54.7 billion), China ranked second (US$13. billion) and UAE ranked third with US$11.6 billion. Taiwan was ranked fourth with US$11.2 billion.
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