China's Arms Sales Motivations and Implications

Abstract

China's arms transfers have become the focus of considerable attention. In the 1980s, China emerged as a major supplier of conventional weapons to the developing world. More recently, China's transfers of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons technology, as well as equipment and materials that could be used in the manufacture of chemical and biological weapons, have seized world attention, particularly in the United States. This study documents China's principal arms-transfer relationships, analyzes the motivations of supplier and recipients, evaluates which arms transfers are of greatest concern, and identifies possible constraints on China's arms sales. It then assesses the threat posed by the transfers.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA373215

Entities

People

  • Daniel L. Byman
  • Roger Clift

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Armored Personnel Carriers
  • Arms Control
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Commerce
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Jet Training Aircraft
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Training Aircraft
  • Treaties
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies