50% off J-35A fighter jets! China's half-price stealth deal to Pakistan ignites online backlash, user says 'we pay the price'
Live Events
A charity sale or strategic move?
The bigger gamble: Selling unfinished products
Trying to sell the J-10CE and the story that didn't fly
India watches, Pakistan trains, China stays quiet
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Beijing's decision to fast-track the delivery of 30 J-35A stealth fighters to Pakistan has ignited a wave of backlash among Chinese citizens. The deal, reportedly offered at a 50% discount, is scheduled to begin in August 2025. If it proceeds, it would mark China's first-ever export of a fifth-generation jet , as reported by Business Today.But online, disbelief is running high.Many are asking why China would send an unproven, in-testing aircraft — one not even inducted into its own air force — to a foreign buyer that still depends on IMF funding for economic survival.On Chinese platforms, the tone has been blunt and biting. One X user, Yingyang Medical School (@Zhejiang), wrote, 'Pakistan has also made a lot of fake news. How can it afford to buy it? It hasn't even paid for the J-10.' That refers to Islamabad's overdue payments for earlier Chinese J-10C fighter jets Another user, CQL0530, expressed disbelief over Beijing's manufacturing priorities: 'China's own production of the J-35 has not yet been built up. How can it be given to them?'And some didn't bother with nuance. Angry Man 1957 (@Guangdong) wrote, simply, 'Bullshit!' while another, posting as Clouds rise and fall from Sichuan province, said 'I can't afford it all,' seemingly lamenting the financial burden on Chinese taxpayers.The phrase '2 more powerful printers are coming', shared by user Cracked Rose (@Guangdong), sparked speculation about whether the government plans to ramp up jet production or metaphorically 'print money' to cover the cost.The timing of the announcement is what has drawn particular ire. It comes just days after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The optics are not lost on either side: India views the move as Beijing arming its ally against Indian forces, while Chinese users question if their government is effectively subsidising weapons for a client state with poor credit history.One user summed up the sentiment: 'It is more in your interest to spend money on building and purchasing industrial equipment and infra.'To them, this isn't about strategy — it's about misplaced priorities.The J-35A — also known as the FC-31 — is still undergoing testing and has yet to be formally inducted into the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Unlike America's F-35, which has seen over 900 units delivered globally, the Chinese stealth fighter is still pre-operational.Yet China appears eager to use the Pakistani order to market the aircraft internationally. The J-35 is designed to rival Western platforms, but without combat experience or confirmed specs, it remains a gamble.Experts say the stealth jet may one day feature advanced sensors and integrated battlefield communication systems. For now, however, it's a concept being sold as a finished product — and critics aren't convinced.Pakistan has also claimed that during Operation Sindoor, its Chinese-supplied J-10CE jets — armed with long-range PL-15 missiles — downed multiple Indian Rafale fighters. Beijing has reportedly leaned on these claims to pitch the J-10CE as 'combat-tested' in marketing materials.But outside Pakistan, no one's buying.China's attempts to sell the J-10CE to Egypt, Brazil, and Uzbekistan have all fallen through. One reason is technical: the jet still depends on Russian engines like the Klimov RD-93 and Saturn AL-31, which many countries consider outdated or risky due to supply chain uncertainties.Pakistani pilots are already being trained in China to fly the J-35s, according to sources. Meanwhile, the Chinese government and state media have remained silent on the growing online criticism. There's been no confirmation, no denial — just quiet momentum behind the scenes.India, on the other hand, is likely to view the sale as part of a broader strategy to shift the regional power balance. A 50% discount on next-gen jets, timed after a cross-border terror attack, adds fuel to long-standing concerns about China using Pakistan as a military proxy.For now, the deal is neither confirmed by China nor fully detailed. But the backlash has been clear. Citizens are asking tough questions. Why sell an untested weapon to a financially unstable country? Why offer it at a discount? And who, ultimately, is footing the bill?Beijing may see the move as a long-term strategic investment. But at home, many are calling it what they believe it is — a heavily subsidised, risky gamble, paid for by the Chinese taxpayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
44 minutes ago
- News18
Trump Signs Executive Order Extending Tariff Truce Deadline With China By 90 Days
The executive order was issued a day after President Trump urged China to significantly increase its purchases of US soybeans. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Monday, extending the tariff truce deadline with China by 90 days, Reuters reported, citing a White House official. The order follows high-level talks between top officials from both countries, who met in Stockholm in July to explore the possibility of shifting the deadline to reach a negotiated agreement on tariffs. A White House official confirmed the latest decision, which came just hours before US tariffs on Chinese goods were due to revert to triple-digit rates. The previously agreed tariff truce between Beijing and Washington was scheduled to expire at 00:01 ET on Tuesday. The executive order, signed on Monday, was issued a day after President Trump urged China to significantly increase its purchases of US soybeans by as much as fourfold. At the same time, Washington has been pressuring Beijing to halt imports of Russian oil, with Trump warning of potential secondary tariffs on Chinese entities found violating the directive. When asked by reporters during a press conference on Monday whether he intended to extend the deadline, Trump responded, 'We'll see what happens. They've been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi (Jinping) and myself." Without the order being passed, US tariffs on Chinese goods would have surged by 145%, while Chinese tariffs on American goods were set to rise to 125%. At present, imports from China into the US are subject to a 30% tariff, which includes a 10% base rate and an additional 20% imposed in relation to fentanyl-related policy measures. These rates were implemented by Washington earlier this year, between February and March. In response, China currently levies a 10% tariff on goods imported from the US. Both nations have made repeated efforts in recent months to reach a consensus on tariff policy, following the imposition of reciprocal triple-digit tariffs. In May, during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the two sides agreed on a temporary truce, initiating a 90-day period for continued negotiations. They met again in Stockholm, Sweden, in late July, although no official extension was announced at the time. However, both parties described the talks as constructive, signalling the possibility of a truce extension. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Lithium Stocks Surge as Chinese Mine Closes After Permit Expires
Shares of North American lithium producers soared as investors bet that the suspension of a major Chinese mine would ease a supply glut and likely lead to a rebound in prices. CATL, the world's biggest battery producer, confirmed the closure of its Jianxiawo mine on Monday, saying it's seeking to renew its expired permit. The fate of the mine, the largest in China's lithium hub of Yichun, had been under close scrutiny for weeks amid speculation that authorities wouldn't extend its license. The mine accounts for about 6% of global output, according to Bank of America Corp. 'In the short term, abrupt supply cuts would trigger further price volatility, disrupt the domestic battery industry and benefit foreign lithium miners,' said Martin Jackson, head of battery raw materials at consultancy CRU Group. Shares of US producer Albemarle rose nearly 16% Monday in New York in its biggest intraday increase in four months. Piedmont Lithium Inc. rose as much as 18%, while Lithium Americas Corp. surged as much as 14%. Chilean producer SQM also jumped as much as 12% in US trading. Lithium producers have struggled with a global supply glut exacerbated by demand headwinds for electric vehicles, including President Donald Trump's rollback of incentives for the industry in the US. The suspension of Jianxiawo mine could help narrow the massive supply surplus in the lithium market, potentially bolstering slumping prices of the battery metal. The suspension of CATL's mine will support higher lithium prices in the near term and is bullish for producers such as Albemarle Corp. and SQM, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Sean Gilmartin wrote in a note Monday. Reduced Chinese output has led to more upside for lithium prices, signaling the market has found a bottom, with more constructive fundamentals likely to emerge in the next two years as supply ramp-ups start to fade, Gilmartin added. Demand still is expected to grow by 15% over the period, he said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Why India Should Seek Closer Ties With China: Amitabh Kant Explains
New Delhi: India should maintain good relation with all nations including China, former Niti Aayog chief and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has said. "If India wishes to enhance her manufacturing capacity, then good relation with Beijing is essential "because they are a major manufacturing partner," Mr Kant told NDTV in an exclusive interview this evening. "We need to get inputs, we need to get components, we need to work with some of these companies to become a global manufacturer for the future," he said. Amitabh Kant's comments come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Beijing for the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Summit -- the first since the Galwan clash. The visit comes amid the imposition of stiff tariffs from US President Donald Trump and increasing pressure on India regarding oil purchase from Russia. There is expectation that under the circumstances, a recalibration of ties with China is expected to act as a balancing factor for the US. Mr Kant, though, indicated that even without the leverage factor, closer ties with China will contribute to India's development. "I think it's important to look at the global GDP," Mr Kant said. The US has about 26 per cent of the global GDP. China is close to about 18 to 19 per cent and Europe, which had about 30 per cent, has slid to 17 per cent. The US remains the only nation that has retained the 26 per cent GDP, has been a beneficiary of free trade, has a market capitalization of 46 percent, with just a population of 4 per cent. But even this post-industrial society has consciously outsourced its manufacturing China. "All its top companies, if you look at the top 20 manufacturing companies of the United States, more than 90 to 95 percent of their manufacturing was outsourced by them to China," he said. "If we need to work with the United States, because they are a big global market, we need to work with China, because they're a major manufacturing partner... We need to get inputs, we need to get components, we need to work with some of these companies to become a global manufacturer for the future," he added. China is Pakistan's all-weather friend, and its support for India following the Pahalgam attack had been dubious. In June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had refused to sign a joint statement at a defence minister's meet under SCO because it skipped any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives and instead, mentioned Balochistan, tacitly accusing India of creating unrest there. The exclusion of Pahalgam was apparently made at the behest of Pakistan. The next month, though, China issued a strong statement against terror as the US designated The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a foreign terrorist organisation for its involvement in the Pahalgam attack. There is also the history of clashes with Chinese troops at the border in Ladakh and Arunachal that had culminated with the Galwan clash in 2020 -- heavily fraying ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
