China main arms supplier to LTTE, Taliban

China has emerged as the main supplier of old and new small-arm weapons to terrorist outfits like the Tamil Tigers, the Taliban and some of the north-eastern insurgent groups, claims Jane’s Intelligence Review.

What was till now in the realm of unconfirmed intelligence has come out in the open. The May edition of the Jane’s Intelligence Review has stated that China has replaced Thailand and Cambodia as the traditional sources of small-arm weapons.

Till recently, the Asian black market of weapons was dominated by Thailand and Cambodia, but China has captured the market now, the leading magazine of intelligence has claimed.

The latest edition has pointed out that the Chinese weapons and ammunition have played a decisive role in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka. LTTE websites display photographs of a range of new Chinese weaponry, including the modern 5.56 mm QBZ-95 bull pup-design assault rifles that the Tamil Tigers cannot claim to have captured from the Sri Lankan Armed forces.

The review says that the LTTE has not only purchased small arms from the Chinese but also ammunition for heavier weapons like mortars and artillery.

But what is most disturbing is the fact that China has also been the major supplier of heavy and small weaponry to the Sri Lankan Armed forces. Norinco and Poly Technologies, Chinese state-owned arms corporations, have all along been selling defence related weapons to Sri Lanka.

So much so, Sri Lankan President Rajapakse had to travel to China to plead with the Chinese to release more than 225 containers of arm equipment and ammunition for his armed forces that had been held back for non-payment of earlier supplies.

China eventually released the supplies after Rajapakse’s intervention.

It is interesting to note that while the Sri Lankan government has payment problems, the LTTE has none because it uses black market channels to make payments to the Chinese suppliers.

Experts differ on the intent and objective of the Chinese establishment. While some say that the Chinese arms reaching insurgent groups is a black market activity, others see China as pursuing a more nuanced policy of arms sale that allows for covert activities in cases where the sale does not conform with the avowed and declared foreign policy goals.

On the other side, Taliban forces in Afghanistan have also been gaining access to Chinese arms, the Jane’s Review points out and goes on to add that the appearance of Chinese HN-5 MANPADS in Taliban’s inventory is a source of concern.

The review quotes a report of seizure of Chinese arms consignment in 2004 by a Bangladeshi Police sergent while being diverted to India’s northeast insurgent groups. The arms consignment was believed to have been loaded in Hong Kong.

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