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Scoop
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Chinese Jet Shoots Down France's Best Fighter; NZ And Australia Should Pay Attention
'Whoever controls advanced chip production shapes the future of human civilization.' Christopher Miller, Chip Wars. The U.S. is seemingly hell-bent on war with China. It is, however, increasingly likely the U.S. will lose such a war for two reasons: advanced computer chips and total production capacity. For reasons of self-interest alone neither Australia nor New Zealand should join a US-led alliance against China. The share price of a Chinese military industrial company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), went sky-high this month within hours of a dogfight between Pakistani and Indian fighters after India launched Operation Sindoor to retaliate against Pakistan's alleged involvement in a militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. At least one, possibly three, state-of-the-art French fighters flown by India got blown out of the sky above the Indo-Pakistan border in air-to-air combat. Without overstating the implications, the downing(s) sends a message about the emerging real-world capabilities of the Chinese military industry and is yet another reason that countries like Australia and New Zealand should reflect on the wisdom of their current military build-up to support the U.S.'s coming war on China. We don't want a war, we don't need a war, and we most certainly don't want to be on the losing side of a war of aggression against China. Are Australia and New Zealand on the right team? Australian defence analyst Professor Hugh White of the Australian National University told Pascal Lottaz on Neutrality Studies recently: 'The essence of the Australian government position at the moment is that we think that China's challenge to America's leadership is so important that we should be willing to go to war with China in order to prevent it. Now I think that is fantastically dangerous. That's a war that I don't think America can win – and to fight it would end up destroying the very thing we're trying to preserve.' Professor White also reminds us of the real risk of escalation to the nuclear level and the reckless complacency that governments are showing in the face of this danger. For its part, New Zealand is set to massively increase its military budget as the government mis-steps into a full-fledged military partnership with the U.S., drifting away from the sounder policy settings of earlier governments. AUKUS, particularly the nuclear-powered attack submarines on order, is as firm a statement as you could get of Australian entrenchment in the U.S. alliance against China. Australia has painted a target on its own back by stationing U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers at Tindal air base – and New Zealand has signalled it wants to join the AUKUS party. As I write, the USS Blue Ridge, command vessel of the U.S. 7th Fleet, is moored in Wellington harbour. Such visits were unthinkable for decades because New Zealand had – and nominally still has – the strongest anti-nuclear weapons legislation in the world: the 'New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987.' No U.S. ships visited from 1986 – when the USS Buchanan was denied entry – until 2016 when the Key government let in the USS Sampson to 'thaw' frosty relations. Rand Corporation analyst Derek Grossman echoed American pleasure at the boat visit and what it really means. "I think it's symbolic, but I also think it's indicative of the strengthening partnership with an eye towards countering China in the Indo-Pacific." China has never threatened New Zealand but the Kiwis seem hell-bent on giving them reason to. Australia, New Zealand and the emerging multipolar world We should not want China as a regional hegemon; nor should we wish the U.S. to continue to be one. China has signalled no such intention; for its part, it is clear-eyed enough to see that the future is multipolar. The U.S. has dominated our region for decades, at a cost of millions of lives – but, without doubt, to New Zealand and Australia's benefit. Those benefits are now in the rearview mirror. The combination of American militarism, strategic incoherence, its participation in the Palestine genocide, declining share of global GDP, and its gormless, burn-the-house-down trade policies should encourage New Zealand and Australia to recalibrate their defence posture away from incorporation into American alliances. Not least because we don't want to be on a losing team. Our leaders, however, tell us we 'share values' with the U.S. and suggest that that should keep us in the tent with the Americans. What kind of people 'share values' with people who commit genocide? Certainly our elites do, but not any decent human being I know. A 'Deepseek' moment in aerial warfare How did the J-10C Vigorous Dragon, built by Chengdu, best the vaunted French Rafales which are touted as being amongst the most advanced fighters in the world? Promising 'air supremacy', each Rafale package cost India over $200 million. Defense planners around the world sat up and paid attention, not least because the Chengdu J-10C comes in at a comparatively modest $40-50 million each. Some suggest this was another 'Deepseek Moment' 1 – the Chinese literally delivering more bangs per buck. According to multiple sources, including Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar, three of India's French Dassault Rafales were downed by the Chinese J-10C jets. The number is contested. France 24 reported: 'According to a source within French intelligence quoted by CNN, at least one Rafale fighter jet was reportedly shot down by the Pakistani military during the clashes on the night of May 6.' The Rafale, often mentioned in the same breath as the US F-35, has previously proven incredibly deadly, killing large numbers of people in Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria – admittedly these people didn't have jets. This month's contest was different and – again, without overstating it – may be one of those moments which sends defence planners back to the drawing board. Definitive comparative analysis would require lots more violence and we don't want that. Defense 360 said this week that a J-10C can detect when it is 'locked on' by an enemy radar: 'It then analyses the signal's frequency and pulse characteristics and transmits a tailored barrage of noise and deceptive wave forms - injecting false targets into the [enemy] display, forcing the opponent to chase ghosts whilst genuine threats close in.' Such electronic warfare tools are at the heart of the tech war that will likely determine the outcome of future wars. It is worth mentioning that J-10C is only rated a fourth-generation fighter and is being phased out by the Chinese. China is already deep in the development of sixth-generation stealth fighters with far more advanced electronic warfare capability. The U.S. is seemingly hell-bent on war with China. It is, however, increasingly likely the U.S. will lose such a war for two reasons: advanced computer chips and total production capacity. Advanced computer chips and total production capacity Modern fighter aircraft like China's J-10C depend on advanced semiconductor chips, particularly in their long-range missile systems and electronic warfare capabilities. It is one of many reasons the U.S. is forcing allies Taiwan and the Netherlands to stop shipping to China their advanced tech like EUV (extreme ultraviolet) machines that create the most sophisticated chips. Between them, ASML (EUV machines) in Holland and TSMC (advanced chips) in Taiwan, had the high-end chip market sewn up. That's no longer the case. Huawei cracks EUV technology Last month China's tech giant Huawei struck back against U.S. sanctions, announcing a breakthrough release of its own EUV technology – microscopic light printing which is critical to advanced chip production. Chief Executive Ren Zhengfei said: 'This new EUV technology will break the chains of U.S. sanctions.' Developed with Shanghai's Academy of Sciences Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the new lithography machines can work at levels smaller than a virus (unimaginably tiny). Like the J-10C dogfight, China showed it has taken great leaps forward in breaking free of U.S. chokepoints and is nearing parity on the kind of advanced processors that will shape the coming century. China's production capacity is a war-winner China's manufacturing output is now at least double the U.S. China builds 40% of global shipbuilding by tonnage, compared to less than 2% for the U.S.. When it comes to warships, the rate China can build a ship is many times faster than the Americans, at a significantly lower cost. Aircraft, drones, artillery shells, missiles and other military production are increasingly tilted in China's favour. None of this is to discount the U.S.'s own formidable technology, its world-ending arsenal and advanced cyber- and other warfighting abilities. For the first time in history, however, the U.S. and the Western world face a genuine peer competitor in China. I just thank whatever gods may be that the Chinese have shown patience and strategic maturity in the face of American, Australian and, increasingly, New Zealand belligerence. We have every reason to foster good relations with them as they are a great nation to trade with, have not fought a war since the 1970s, share the same region as us, and that we would likely and deservedly face real-world consequences if China is forced into a war with the U.S and its allies. Our Defence and Foreign Affairs needs to appreciate that tomorrow will not be the same as yesterday and that holding on reflexively to a white, Western worldview is not in our own peoples' interests.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
China the real winner...? How India-Pakistan conflict turned into a jackpot for Beijing, could be a game-changer for export of...
China the real winner...? How India-Pakistan conflict turned into a jackpot for Beijing, could be a game-changer for export of... The recent four-day military clash between India and Pakistan has caught world's attention. It began on the night of May 6, when India launched 'Operation Sindoor,' targeting terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. In response, Pakistan attempted retaliatory strikes on Indian territory. Tensions escalated rapidly, bringing both nuclear-armed neighbors to the brink of war. However, a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10, and since then, both sides have made strong claims about their actions and outcomes. While the spotlight has mostly been on India and Pakistan, another country has quietly emerged in the backdrop and one such is China. According to a report by the BBC, China may have gained the most from this conflict, especially when it comes to its defense industry. Experts point out that Pakistan used Chinese-made weapons and fighter jets during the conflict with India. This has unexpectedly boosted China's military export profile. The conflict acted almost like a live demonstration of Chinese arms in action, particularly their fighter aircraft, which could now attract attention from other countries looking to modernize their air forces. China's silent victory During the war-like confrontation, the skies became a battlefield, with both countries deploying drones, missiles, and fighter jets. India relied on aircraft built by France and Russia, while Pakistan took to the skies with Chinese-made J-10 and JF-17 jets. Though both India and Pakistan claimed their fighter jets did not cross each other's borders and only launched missiles from within their own airspace, the use of airpower was central to this conflict. Interestingly, this clash has unexpectedly become a turning point for China's defense industry. Some defense experts are calling it a 'Deepseek moment', a rare opportunity for Chinese weapons to prove their worth in real-world conflict, even though China was not directly involved. Zhou Bo, a Chinese military analyst, told the BBC that the air battle served as a massive advertisement for China's arms industry. Until now, China had little to show in terms of how its weapons perform in actual warfare. But this conflict, through Pakistan's use of Chinese jets, offered the world a glimpse of their strength. One of the most visible effects of the conflict was the spotlight on Pakistan's use of Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets. The attention these aircraft received helped boost the reputation of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the Chinese manufacturer behind the J-10. 'Too early to say that Chinese jets had an edge' However, defense experts warn against jumping to conclusions. Professor Walter Ladwig from King's College London stated, 'It's too early to say that Chinese jets had an edge in this conflict.' So far, no concrete evidence suggests Chinese weapons decisively outperformed others. Still, the buzz around Chinese arms, especially on platforms like Chinese social media, paints a different picture. Carlotta Rinaudo, a researcher from the International Team for the Study of Security in Verona, noted that Chinese platforms are flooded with messages celebrating their country's defense technology. 'Even though there's limited information, the narrative being built is that China came out on top,' she said. World's largest arms exporter The US is currently the world's largest arms exporter, with China at fourth place. Until now, Beijing has mainly sold weapons to countries like Pakistan and Myanmar, but this conflict could help open doors to other nations that have traditionally looked to the West for military supplies.
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's J-10C combat use boosts Chinese jet maker's value by $7.6b
Listen to article The market capitalisation of China's premier jet manufacturer, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surged by over $7.6 billion following last week's Pakistan-India conflict, according to a Bloomberg report. The sharp increase came amid global focus on the combat performance of the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, reportedly used by Pakistan in the skirmish. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully deployed J-10C jets to shoot down five Indian fighter aircraft, including three French Rafale jets, during an escalation marked by missile exchanges, drone strikes, and artillery fire. The conflict ended with a US-brokered ceasefire, but its ripple effects continue to shape international defense discourse. Read: Chinese PL-15 missiles' combat debut in Pakistan-India conflict Bloomberg reported that Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's market value rose by more than 55 billion yuan—over a quarter increase—by the end of last week, underscoring investor confidence in the jet's perceived battlefield effectiveness. The episode has sparked renewed interest in Chinese military hardware, challenging long-standing assumptions about the superiority of Western arms. China is the world's fourth-largest arms exporter, with most of its clientele in developing nations like Pakistan. Analysts suggest the recent events could bolster Beijing's global defense sales pitch. 'There is a good chance the weapons systems China is able to offer will be even more appealing to potential buyers—especially in the Global South,' said James Char, assistant professor at the China Program of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He also noted that the J-10C is not even China's most advanced fighter jet. Read more: Shares of J-17 jet manufacturer soar after Pakistan downs Indian Rafale jets The conflict also drew attention to another Chinese weapon system: the PL-15 air-to-air missile. Remnants of the missile were reportedly recovered in India after the aerial engagements, indicating its possible first successful use in combat. With speeds exceeding Mach 5, the PL-15 is considered a rival to top Western missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM. China's defence sector is expected to benefit from increased international scrutiny of its arms capabilities, especially as countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa reconsider their procurement strategies amid rising geopolitical tensions and defense spending pressures.
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
China jet maker's market capitalization soars by over $7.6 billion after India-Pakistan conflict
ISLAMABAD: The market capitalization of China's premier jet manufacturer, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surged by more than $7.6 billion (Rs2.1 trillion) following the recent India-Pakistan conflict last week, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, as global attention zeroed in on the combat performance of Chinese J-10C fighter jets. The report comes after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) hailed the use of the J-10Cs to shoot down five Indian fighter jets, including three French Rafales, during a recent flare-up in hostilities that saw the nuclear-armed neighbors pound each other with missiles, drones and artillery for four days until the United States brokered a ceasefire. The episode has prompted a reassessment of Chinese weapons, challenging long-held perceptions of their inferiority to Western arms. 'The jet's maker saw its market capitalization soar by over 55 billion yuan ($7.6 billion), or more than a fourth, by the end of last week,' Bloomberg reported. China is the world's fourth-largest arms exporter, but its customers are mostly developing nations like Pakistan that have limited funds. The latest developments could bolster Beijing's sales pitch as major economies from Europe to Asia heed President Donald Trump's call to ramp up defense spending, Blomberg said. 'There is a good chance the weapons systems China is able to offer will be even more appealing to potential buyers' especially in the Global South, said James Char, assistant professor of the China Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, noting the J-10C was not even China's most advanced jet. The J-10Cs have had few battle tests and are used to patrol the Taiwan Strait and their latest reported success by Pakistan has provided some initial insight into how they might fare against US fighters such as the F-16, Bloomberg said. Another Chinese weapon in focus after the India-Pakistan standoff is the PL-15 missile. Parts of the air-to-air missiles were found in India after the reported shoot-downs, suggesting the weapons, deployed on Pakistan's J-10C aircraft, proved effective in their first known combat use. With a top speed above Mach 5, the PL-15 is a rival to Western air-to-air missiles.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rafale maker Dassault Aviation stock rallies day after PM Modi's 'Lakshman Rekha' message to Pakistan
Shares of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale jets that India reportedly used against Pakistan during 'Operation Sindoor', extended their rally for a second straight session on Wednesday, May 14, rising over 1.47% to hit an intraday high of €304.40 on the Paris Stock Exchange, edging closer to its record high of €332.20. After a sharp 7% drop on Monday, Dassault Aviation rebounded by more than 3% on Tuesday. Market experts pointed out the formation of a bullish hammer pattern on the monthly chart, suggesting more upside in the near term, Live Mint reported. The recent surge is being linked to geopolitical developments. Following India's Operation Sindoor on May 7, in which Rafale jets reportedly struck terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan using SCALP and HAMMER munitions, investor sentiment around Dassault Aviation has improved. The stock's upward momentum is also backed by solid fundamentals. Dassault Aviation reported €6.24 billion in annual revenue and a net profit of €924 million, while the broader French Aerospace & Defence sector grew 17.7% over the past year. Dassault Aviation stock rebounded after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with an S-400 missile defence system in the backdrop, sent a firm message Tuesday from Adampur Air Base to Pakistan. In his first speech to the armed forces since Operation Sindoor, Modi lauded the military for humbling Pakistan in the four-day engagement that resulted in the destruction of nine terror sites, killing of over 100 terrorists and damage to its eight military installations. But the significance of the speech was immense. It was delivered from the Adampur base, merely 100 km from the Pakistan border, which Pakistan claimed to have destroyed along with the S-400 missile defence system. India had rubbished the claims and TV cameras following Modi corroborated that. Reiterating that Operation Sindoor is India's new normal, he praised the soldiers, saying what they have achieved is unprecedented, unimaginable and amazing, making every Indian proud and indebted. "Aatank ke viruddh Bharat ki Lakshman Rekha ekdam spasht hai. Ab phir koi terror attack hua to Bharat jawab dega, pakka jawab dega. (India's Lakshman Rekha against terrorism is now crystal clear. India will respond and definitely respond if hit by a terror attack),' he said, in an over 27-minute speech which echoed the message of his address to the nation on Monday night. Dassault Aviation shares saw volatility in the European stock market, plunging as much as 7% intraday on Monday to touch €292, with prices fluctuating between €291 and €295 throughout the day. Meanwhile, shares of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the Chinese aerospace company behind the J-10 fighter jets, inducted by Pakistan, surged by 20 per cent on May 12. This marked a significant rise in investor confidence for Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, with its stock reaching Chinese Yuan 95.86, a 60% increase from the previous week. Despite the dip, Dassault Aviation's stock's broader performance remains strong, backed by healthy fundamentals. According to Live Mint, the company reported annual revenue of EUR 6.24 billion and a net profit of EUR 924 million, aligning with the 17.7% growth in the French Aerospace & Defence sector over the past year. On May 8, the stock rebounded by 1.75%, closing at EUR 325.8 on the Euronext Paris exchange, lifting its year-to-date gain to 66.7% from its December 31 close of EUR 195.90. However, in the last five trading sessions, Dassault Aviation's stock had still recorded an overall decline of over 10%, reflecting ongoing market fluctuations.
