Asia: defence spending and arms procurement

Asia’s steady economic rise and the accompanying increase in military expenditure has led to the problem of the uncontrolled proliferation of conventional arms in the region. The key trends include: the acquisition of new capabilities where none had existed in the past; the acquisition of the latest and most sophisticated military technologies; the emphasis on naval power projection in the form of expanded maritime power; the renewed emphasis on airpower; and enhancements to land power. This increase in military power projection capabilities has accentuated security dilemmas, in turn increasing the potential for misperceptions, miscalculations and accidental war. This suggests the urgent need for arms control and other confidence-building measures in order to ameliorate the consequences of Asia’s relentless arms build-up.