Pukhov: strengthening the PRC on arms market – the main problem of Russian defense

"In the sphere of military-technical cooperation (MTC), Russia and China aimed at the same regional markets – large developing countries seeking to pursue a relatively independent from the Western military-political course" – said the expert. According to him, a major advantage of China to Russia are "not only big in comparison with the scale of the Russian economy, but also great mutual complementarity of the PRC's economy with the economies of potential importers of Chinese and Russian weapons." Thus, Pukhov said, "China is becoming one of the major commodity buyers in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, constantly increasing investment in these countries." Russia, by contrast, is an exporter of primary products are often directly or indirectly competing in commodity markets, with buyers of its weapons, such as Algeria, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, said the official. Russia's main trading partner, recalled an expert, remains the EU and trade with developing countries, besides China, is small. Russian investments in developing countries are projects for mining and processing mineral resources. On the other hand, the director of CAST, "China's policy causes more fear in the neighboring countries of Southeast Asia, which gives Russian exporters new opportunities." Strengthening Sino-Pakistani military-technical cooperation contributes to an increase in capacity is important for the Russian Federation of the Indian market. The growth military might of China made ​​Vietnam become one of Russia's key partners in the PTS. For the same reason Myanmar – a traditional partner of China – in 2009 gave preference to Russian MiG-29 at the completion of the tender air force against a very lucrative Chinese proposals, "said Pukhov. "In addition, in the near future, China's military exports will be linked with the global priorities of Chinese foreign policy is now happening in the U.S., but in the past with the Soviet Union, which will reduce the space for the Chinese military-technical cooperation, and will be on hand to Russian suppliers of arms, – the expert concluded.