''Global spending on weapons now totals more than US$1.7 trillion''

From Taipei Times

"Global spending on weapons now totals more than US$1.7 trillion, and Russia has overtaken Britain and France to take third place in the world league table, according to research figures released yesterday.

While military expenditure fell last year in most Western countries, including the US, which is facing serious budget deficits, Russia and China have continued to increase their spending on weapons — by more than 9 percent and 6 percent respectively last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)."

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