India becomes world's largest arms importer, seeking to counter China

In its race to join the club of international powers, India has reached another milestone — it's now the world's largest weapons importer.

A Swedish think-tank that monitors global arms sales said Monday that India's weapons imports had overtaken China's, as the South Asian country pushes ahead with plans to modernize its military, counter Beijing's influence and gain international clout.

"India has ambitions to become first a continental and (then) a regional power," said Rahul Bedi, a South Asia analyst with London-based Jane's Defence Weekly. "To become a big boy, you need to project your power."

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