Why China’s Big Arms Makers Are Shrinking While Global Weapons Sales Surge

Global demand for weapons is booming, but China’s big defense companies are losing revenue as purges, budget strains, and weak exports hit key programs.
Why China’s Big Arms Makers Are Shrinking While Global Weapons Sales Surge
Chinese missile launchers during a military parade marking the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2025. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
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News Analysis

As wars in Ukraine and Gaza drive demand for weapons, most of the world’s largest arms companies are selling more than ever, while China’s arms giants are seeing their sales shrink.

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Sean Tseng
Sean Tseng
Author
Sean Tseng is a Canada-based reporter for The Epoch Times covering U.S.–China relations, CCP politics, trade policy, and emerging technologies including AI and defense. He holds a BASc in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia.