Latest news with #J-10CE
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Unpaid jets, unfinished planes: China's 50% discounted fighter plane sale to Pakistan; citizens ask who is benefiting?
Beijing's fast track delivery plan of 30 J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan at half the price triggered a storm of backlash across Chinese social media platforms. The move, which would mark China's first export of a fifth-generation combat aircraft, is being widely criticised as financially and strategically reckless. The deal is expected to begin deliveries in August 2025. However, the decision has left many Chinese citizens baffled and angry, especially as the J-35A, also known as the FC-31, is still undergoing testing and has not even yet been inducted into China's own air force. One user, posting under the handle @Zhejiang from the Yingyang Medical School, asked, '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.' The comment refers to Pakistan's pending payments for earlier J-10C fighter jets purchased from China. Another user, @CQL0530, criticised Beijing's production priorities, 'China's own production of the J-35 has not yet been built up. How can it be given to them?' Some users dispensed with any diplomacy. 'Bullshit!' wrote another user, quoted by ET. The phrase '2 more powerful printers are coming,' shared by user Cracked Rose, was interpreted by some as a reference to the government printing more money, or jets, to fund the project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo 'A charity sale', or 'strategic leverage' Beyond the jet's readiness, the announcement's timing has also drawn scrutiny. It comes just days after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, prompting Indian analysts to see the deal as China arming Pakistan amid renewed cross-border tensions. Back home, users are questioning whether the government is, in effect, subsidising a military client state with limited ability to pay. 'It is more in your interest to spend money on building and purchasing industrial equipment and infra,' one commenter wrote. The root of concern is whether China is selling a 'concept jet,' a fighter still in development, as a finished product. While the J-35 is designed to rival platforms like the US-made F-35, it lacks any combat history or proven capabilities. A shaky pitch China previously tried to market the J-10CE, another fighter jet supplied to Pakistan, as 'combat-tested', citing claims from Islamabad that it shot down Indian Rafales during Operation Sindoor. But these claims remained unverified outside Pakistani media and have been met with scepticism. Efforts to sell the J-10CE to countries like Egypt, Brazil, and Uzbekistan have so far failed. Experts point to its reliance on Russian engines, such as the RD-93 and AL-31, which are seen as outdated and increasingly risky given geopolitical tensions and supply chain concerns. Reports suggest that Pakistani pilots are already undergoing training in China to fly the J-35. However, the Chinese government has not issued any official statement on the backlash or confirmed the details of the sale. While India is expected to keep a close eye on how this unfolds, many in China are simply asking, who benefits? If the deal goes ahead, Beijing might frame it as a strategic move to cement influence in the region. But for many ordinary citizens, it's beginning to look like a high-risk bet, funded by the Chinese taxpayer, on an unfinished aircraft sold to a customer with an unreliable credit record.
Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
50% off J-35A fighter jets! China's half-price stealth deal to Pakistan ignites online backlash, user says 'we pay the price'
Social media lights up: 'It hasn't even paid for the J-10' 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 online, disbelief is running 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 outside Pakistan, no one'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 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 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 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.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
China and Pakistan reaffirm ironclad ties in FM Dar's first trip after conflict with India
BEIJING: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (pic right) met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi (pic left) in Beijing on May 20 and the two men reaffirmed the ironclad friendship binding the two countries, following a four-day crossfire between India and Pakistan earlier in May. Dar is the first high-level Pakistani official to visit China after the India-Pakistan conflict drew international attention to the reported performance of Chinese fighter jets and missiles, one of the few times they have been tested in actual combat. Wang told Dar: 'As an ironclad friend, China will firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.' In response, Dar said Pakistan hopes to 'continue to receive strong support from China in overcoming current difficulties' and in promoting national development, security and stability, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement on May 20, although arms sales were not specifically mentioned. The reaffirmation of ties was significant as, aside from Turkey and Azerbaijan, there was little support for Pakistan during the conflict with India. Islamabad will want to reaffirm Beijing's diplomatic and strategic backing, especially as Pakistan faces international scrutiny for its murky role in cross-border terrorist activity, said Dr Sajjan Gohel, international security director at the London-based Asia-Pacific Foundation think-tank. The reported good showing of Pakistan's China-made weaponry, however, would not necessarily lead to more bilateral arms sales, analysts said. China is Pakistan's main arms supplier. The majority of China's arms sales has gone to Pakistan in recent years, including J-10CE fighter jets, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and first delivered to Pakistan in 2022. During the conflict, those fighter jets reportedly shot down the French-designed Rafale aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force. New Delhi had declined to confirm the specific losses. This nevertheless triggered praise from Chinese state and social media in a supposed credibility boost for the Chinese defence industry, which still holds a small market share. China has accounted for about 6 per cent of global arms transfers in the past five years, behind the US, France and Russia. Professor Lin Minwang, who specialises in international relations and South Asia at Shanghai's Fudan University, said the performance of China's weapons would have boosted Pakistan's confidence in them, which is naturally good for future sales. Whether this would actually translate to more acquisitions depends on Pakistan's military plans and needs, said Prof Lin, who is deputy director at his university's Centre for South Asian Studies. He said the meeting between Wang and Dar not only served to calm regional tensions, but also allowed both sides to push forward with the upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with economic development still the basis of bilateral cooperation. The corridor is a multibillion-dollar flagship infrastructure network project that links China's western Xinjiang region with the Pakistani port of Gwadar. On May 7, India carried out precision strikes on what it called terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to an April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people. India blames Pakistan for the terror attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement. Both sides reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict. Asia-Pacific Foundation's Dr Gohel believes Pakistan sought further upgrades from China to its air defence systems, radar integration and missile technology after India's strikes. Despite the framing of successes, Pakistan faced numerous setbacks, especially as its bases were repeatedly hit from India's stand-off capacity, he said. At the same time, the conflict had provided 'invaluable performance feedback (for Chinese weaponry) that no simulation or exercise can replicate', Dr Gohel said. He added that Pakistan's substantial military upgrades, if any, will be weighed against international optics, regional balance and China's own tensions with India. 'Any new systems offered are likely to be incremental or previously planned, avoiding moves that visibly escalate the situation,' he said. Dr Shounak Set, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' South Asia Programme, said the conflict had presented China with an opportunity to enhance the reputation of its defence industry. This was especially as persistent concerns over quality control and performance had previously affected its defence exports, he said, adding that these concerns have been informally acknowledged within Pakistan as well. 'However, the performance of the Chinese air defence systems, which struggled to prevent deep strikes and precision targeting, offers a more measured and sobering assessment of the overall operational effectiveness,' said Dr Set. As for the overall China-Pakistan relationship, he said it is anchored in historical ties and a shared interest in counterbalancing India. 'This episode, like previous instances, reinforces the durability and strategic orientation of that relationship,' Dr Set said. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
China, Pakistan say ties are ironclad as FM Ishaq Dar meets Wang Yi after deadly clash with India
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) met his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Beijing on May 20. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE, AFP China and Pakistan reaffirm ironclad ties in FM Dar's first trip after conflict with India – Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on May 20 and the two men reaffirmed the ironclad friendship binding the two countries following a four-day crossfire between India and Pakistan earlier in May. Mr Dar is the first high-level Pakistani official to visit China after the India-Pakistan conflict drew international attention to the reported performance of Chinese fighter jets and missiles, one of the few times they have been tested in actual combat. Mr Wang told Mr Dar: 'As an ironclad friend, China will firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.' In response, Mr Dar said Pakistan hopes to 'continue to receive strong support from China in overcoming current difficulties', and in promoting national development, security and stability, said the Chinese foreign ministry in a statement on May 20, although arms sales was not specifically mentioned. The reaffirmation of ties was significant as, aside from Turkey and Azerbaijan, there was little support for Pakistan during the conflict with India. Islamabad will want to reaffirm China's diplomatic and strategic backing, especially as Pakistan faces international scrutiny for its murky role in cross-border terrorist activity, said Dr Sajjan Gohel, International Security Director at the London-based Asia-Pacific Foundation think-tank. The reported good showing of Pakistan's China-made weaponry, however, would not necessarily lead to more bilateral arms sales, analysts said. China is Pakistan's main arms supplier. The majority of China's arms sales have gone to Pakistan in recent years, including J-10CE fighter jets, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and first delivered to Pakistan in 2022. During the conflict, those fighter jets reportedly shot down the French-designed Rafale aircraft belonging to the Indian air force. New Delhi had declined to confirm the specific losses. This, nevertheless, triggered praise from Chinese state and social media, in a supposed credibility boost for the Chinese defence industry, which still holds a small market share. China accounted for about 6 per cent of global arms transfers in the past five years, behind the United States, France and Russia. Professor Lin Minwang, who specialises in international relations and South Asia at Shanghai's Fudan University, said the performance of China's weapons would have boosted Pakistan's confidence in them, which is naturally good for future sales. Whether this would actually translate to more acquisitions depends on Pakistan's military plans and needs, said Prof Lin, who is deputy director at his university's Centre for South Asian Studies. He said the meeting between Mr Wang and Mr Dar served not only to calm regional tensions, but also allowed both sides to push forward with the upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with economic development still the basis of bilateral cooperation. The corridor is a multi-billion dollar flagship infrastructure network project that links China's western Xinjiang region with the Pakistani port of Gwadar. On May 7, India carried out precision strikes on what it called terror ist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to an April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people. India blames Pakistan for the terror attack, but Islamabad has denied any involvement. Both sides reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict. Dr Gohel believes Pakistan sought further upgrades from China to its air defence systems, radar integration, and missile technology after India's strikes. Despite the framing of successes, Pakistan faced numerous setbacks especially as its bases were repeatedly hit from India's stand-off capacity, he said. At the same time, the conflict had provided 'invaluable performance feedback (for Chinese weaponry) that no simulation or exercise can replicate', said Dr Gohel. He added that Pakistan's substantial military upgrades , if any, will be weighed against international optics, regional balance and China's own tensions with India. 'Any new systems offered are likely to be incremental or previously planned, avoiding moves that visibly escalate the situation,' Dr Gohel said. Dr Shounak Set, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' South Asia Programme, said the conflict had presented China with an opportunity to enhance the reputation of its defence industry. This was especially as persistent concerns over quality control and performance had previously affected its defence exports, he said, adding that these concerns have been informally acknowledged within Pakistan as well. 'However, the performance of the Chinese air defence systems, which struggled to prevent deep strikes and precision targeting, offers a more measured and sobering assessment of the overall operational effectiveness,' said Dr Set. As for the overall China-Pakistan relationship, he said it is anchored in historical ties and a shared interest in counterbalancing India. 'This episode, like previous instances, reinforces the durability and strategic orientation of that relationship,' Dr Set said. Lim Min Zhang is China correspondent at The Straits Times. He has an interest in Chinese politics, technology, defence and foreign policies. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
How Pakistan became China's air power showroom
Between the night of May 6 and 7, Pakistan and India were locked in the fiercest air battle of the 21st century. As many as 125 fighter jets took the sky, the numbers advantage tilted heavily in India's favour. When the dust settled and the fog of war lifted, Pakistan's claim of downing five Indian Air Force jets — including three of its prized Rafale fighters — sent shockwaves through global military circles. The fact that the French-made 4.5th-generation Rafale was shot down in combat for the first time since it took to the skies was newsworthy in itself. But what stood out even more than the kills Pakistan claimed was the technology it reportedly used to achieve them: Chinese-made fighter jets, missiles, radar, and electronic warfare systems. Since the aerial engagement, analysts and defence industry sources — both Western and Chinese — have spoken to various news outlets about why the live deployment of such advanced weapons, potentially usable in future great power conflicts, will be scrutinised in meticulous detail. 'I think this brings us back to a type of aerial combat we haven't seen in a long time,' Newsweek quoted Walter Ladwig, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), as saying. 'Fighter jets had taken a backseat, but now we're witnessing a clash between states deploying their frontline weapons. This is what state-on-state war looks like.' 'Air warfare communities in China, the US, and several European countries will be extremely eager to extract as much ground truth as possible — tactics, techniques, procedures, what equipment was used, what worked and what didn't,' Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Reuters. As open-source evidence mounted that Pakistan's newly acquired J-10CE fighter jet had downed a Rafale, shares of the Chinese aviation firm Chengdu soared more than 40 per cent in just two days. 'The Rafale is a very modern aircraft and a top-line fighter in the Indian arsenal,' Ladwig told Newsweek. 'India's acquisition of it was a cornerstone of its air force modernisation.' The likelihood that it was downed by a state-of-the-art Chinese fighter came as a 'pleasant surprise' for Beijing, noted Yun Sun, a Chinese military specialist at the Stimson Center in Washington DC, in article by the Financial Times. 'There's no better advertisement than a real combat situation… the result is quite striking,' he was quoted as saying. According to the Financial Times piece, defence attachés from China's Western rivals were already 'impatient' for India to share radar and electronic signatures from the J-10CE in combat mode, so that their own aerial defence systems can be trained accordingly. 'This is the most important global aspect — this is the first time Chinese military equipment has been tested against top-tier Western systems,' said Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University's South Asian Studies programme, in remarks to the Financial Times. 'However this ends, the final reckoning will have implications for Taiwan and for how Western defence firms respond to China's combination of low-cost and high-tech capabilities.' Speaking to The Telegraph, Hu Xijin, former editor of China's state-owned Global Times, stated that the battle demonstrated 'China's level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France,' adding that Taiwan should now be 'even more scared.' For China, the skirmish tested not only the aircraft but also the systems it employs — like the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system it is equipped with and the PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles it can be armed with. Aurangzeb Ahmed, Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Air Operations, confirmed that variants of the PL-15 missile were used in the engagement. The hour-long aerial battle, he boasted, 'would be studied in classrooms,' adding, 'We knocked some sense into these guys.' Robert Tollast, a researcher at RUSI, told the Financial Times that the use of the PL-15 missile could be 'highly significant.' 'If confirmed, we've now seen a Chinese-made AESA paired with a beyond-visual-range missile used in combat,' Tollast said. Western nations and Russia have tested their own AESAs for decades, but details from just this single skirmish — such as how many missiles were fired per hit — 'could be tremendously useful for China in evaluating the capabilities of its systems,' he added. Chinese military analysts have long viewed the PL-15 as a top-tier BVR missile. 'But if a hit is confirmed, this becomes a public demonstration of Chinese aerospace prowess,' Fabian Hoffmann, a missile researcher and non-resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told The Telegraph. 'This is another signal that, in a Taiwan conflict, we shouldn't assume Chinese tech would perform like Russia's in Ukraine,' he noted. The PL-15 is guided mid-flight by an AESA radar located on the launch platform or a separate vehicle. Near the target, its own onboard AESA radar activates, locking on and homing in with high precision. A dual-pulse motor gives it an additional burst of speed around 10 kilometres from impact. 'These are very fast weapons,' Hoffmann was quoted as saying. 'They essentially have a 'no-escape zone'. The shift from external to onboard radar also lets the launching jet disengage and avoid counterfire. There's survivability for the launch platform, and lethality for the missile itself.' According to Rick Joe, an expert on China's military advancements, the Pakistan-India aerial engagement — regardless of the actual kill tally — has significantly boosted the profile of China's tactical air capabilities, both among the general public and former sceptics. 'For those who have been seriously tracking China's defence sector, the fact that the J-10C and PL-15 are performing as advertised should come as no surprise,' he told The Express Tribune. According to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, approximately 81 percept of Pakistan's military equipment originates from China, including more than half of its 400-strong air force fleet. The military hardware China supplies has evolved along with its own defence industry, Andrew Small, a Pakistan-China relations expert at the German Marshall Fund, told Financial Times. Apart from cooperation on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, much of what China used to supply was low-end like tanks, artillery and small arms, Small noted. 'Now, Pakistan is becoming a showcase for some of China's newer capabilities.' India, meanwhile, has become the world's largest weapons importer, shifting from a dependency on Russian arms to purchasing from the US, France and Israel, which now account for nearly half of its recent acquisitions. 'The big advantage the Pakistanis have is that their primary weapons supplier is China,' The Telegraph quoted Walter Ladwig as saying in a different piece. 'India may have a larger defence budget and modernisation programme on paper, but Beijing delivers.' He pointed out that China has rapidly supplied Pakistan with armour, the jointly developed JF-17 fighter jet, and missile systems. India's primary suppliers — Russia and France, providing 36 and 33 percept of imports respectively — have been slower to meet orders. 'India's air force is still flying antiquated MiGs,' Ladwig added. Currently, Pakistan is the only country besides China operating the J-10C fighter. The Pakistan Air Force ordered 36 export-model J-10CE aircraft and 250 PL-15E missiles in 2020. The first six were delivered in 2022, and 20 are now in active service. Egypt is among nations that have expressed interest in the J-10C, while Uzbekistan is reportedly weighing it against the Rafale for its air force modernisation. Nonetheless, defence analysts urge caution when interpreting the results of this technological faceoff as pilot error or rules of engagement may have contributed to the Rafale's reported losses. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr James Patton Rogers — Executive Director of the Brooks Tech Policy Institute at Cornell and an expert on drone warfare, disruptive technologies, and international security — echoed that caution. 'If you read Chinese media, you'd think they're now global leaders in fighter jet manufacturing after one alleged shootdown,' he said. 'But we need to see Rafales in full operational deployment to accurately assess how vulnerable they really are to Chinese aircraft.' 'The claims we're seeing go beyond traditional dogfights,' emphasised Dr Rogers. 'We should be more concerned about China's electronic warfare capabilities… The J-10 seems capable of disrupting radar communication systems, impairing the Rafales' situational awareness and forcing them to land — or crash,' he said. That, he believed, was most likely to raise red flags in France, the US and rest of the West regarding just how sophisticated these jets have become. 'If the J-10s are now supposedly outperforming the F-16s, we may be witnessing a new benchmark of China's military capability.' Asked whether this could shift arms buyers toward China, Dr Rogers responded: 'For some countries that were leaning that way anyway, this is the justification that they needed to push them over the edge politically and to make that case… about why to go with Chinese goods over others.' 'If you can make the case that Chinese weapons are militarily superior, it takes lot of the other politics out of it and it's easier to justify in this increasingly contested great power world we live in today,' he explained. 'I wouldn't be surprised if it has boosted the profile of Chinese arms, in particular J-10C and PL-15,' added Rick Joe. 'Whether those nations will actually purchase PRC arms is another matter because procurement is a reflection of politics, cost, tech transfer, etc,' he stressed.
