University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation

This brief summarizes key trends and findings of two recent reports by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Despite the global financial crisis that began in 2008, research by CSIS has shown that many Asian countries experienced relatively low fiscal distress and continued to increase their level of involvement in global affairs during the crisis. Today, several Asian countries are already among the largest defense spenders in the world. In addition, unlike defense budgets in many other regions, including the West, Asian defense spending continues to increase.