A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says Taiwan has readily become the top client for US weapons, while the mainland has been a chief recipient of arms from Russia. Taiwan has bought arms from the US over the years, while the mainland has accelerated arms purchases from Russia, importing advanced fighter aircraft and destroyers in recent years Excerpts of the research institute's year book, which will officially be released in September, note that world military spending in 2002 and 2003 increased by 18 per cent to US$956 billion. Last year the increase was 11 per cent, due mainly to the massive growth in the US to support its military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and other anti-terrorist activities.
