India largest importer of arms surpassing China: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: India has become the largest importer of arms, surpassing the Chinese share of five per cent of global arms imports during 2007-11, government told the Rajya Sabha today.

"As per a report published in March 2012 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI), India has become the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and accounted for 10 per cent of global arms import as compared to to Chinese share of five per cent", Defence Minister A K Antony told the House in a written reply.

He was asked whether India has topped as weapons importer displacing China.

On shortage of weapons, Antony said, "Shortage of weapons are adequately addressed through indigenous production and import... Procurement of arms and equipment for the armed forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges and available resources".

The procurement of arms and ammunitions is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP), he added.

Replying to a question on Chinese intrusion into Indian territory, he said, "The number of incidents of Chinese transgression beyond our perception of LAC during the last five years have generally been as per the established pattern".

There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and there are few areas along the border where India and China have differing perceptions of the LAC, Antony said, adding that both sides undertake patrol upto their respective perceptions of the LAC.