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South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Pakistan eyes more Chinese weapon systems after ‘clear-cut victory over India'
Pakistan is in talks with China over the acquisition of cutting-edge anti-ballistic missile systems, airborne early warning and control platforms, and stealth fighters to plug the holes in its air defences exploited by India during their brief air war last month. Advertisement South Asia security experts said Islamabad hoped the procurement of 40 fifth-generation J-35 warplanes, KJ-500 early warning aircraft and the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile weapon systems would help deter any future Indian attacks by threatening heavy losses of expensive warplanes and missiles. But New Delhi would also have to take into account Beijing's motivations for positioning its best integrated air defence systems on India's western flank, the analysts said. According to Walter Ladwig, an associate professor of international relations at King's College London, China's forthcoming sale of advanced stealth jets, radar aircraft, and missile defences to Pakistan is a 'strategic message' for India. Beijing was 'effectively embedding top-tier Chinese military technology into India's western flank, raising the stakes in any future conflict and constraining India's ability to deter escalation', he told This Week In Asia. Advertisement 'However much China denies alignment, this move will be read in Delhi as further evidence that Beijing is prepared to underwrite Pakistan's military posture despite Islamabad's role in cross-border violence,' said Ladwig, who is also an associate fellow with the Navigating the Indo-Pacific programme at the Royal United Services Institute, a British military think tank.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
J-10C success in India-Pakistan clash testifies to China's air superiority
Not long ago, Chinese fighter jets were dismissed as reverse-engineered relics of Soviet design. They appeared modern but lacked combat pedigree. Analysts questioned whether the People's Liberation Army Air Force could match Western air forces in capability, resilience or technological sophistication. That scepticism appears to be fading. Recent developments show Chinese air power is not only advancing but maturing. With its fifth-generation stealth fighters and sixth-generation designs, China is shifting from imitation to innovation and from regional ambition to global competition. A dragon has at last entered the skies, and its ascent deserves close strategic attention. For many years, China's military aviation progressed without direct operational validation. No matter how many aircraft China built or exported, none had been tested in a high-stakes battle. That changed when the Pakistan Air Force reportedly deployed the Chinese-made J-10C during an aerial clash with India last week. As confirmed by US officials speaking anonymously, the J-10C fighter jets, equipped with Chinese PL-15 missiles , shot down at least two Indian jets, including one French-made Rafale. The success of the J-10C, featuring an advanced radar system called an active electronically scanned array (AESA), is the first in combat for Chinese aircraft using domestic systems. It represents a breakthrough moment, as Chinese air power turns theory into practice. The performance of the J-10C revealed more than technological maturity. It demonstrated a doctrinal shift. China has embraced ecosystem-centric warfare. This approach prioritises information dominance, situational awareness and the coordination of multiple assets. It is an evolution that mirrors strategies pioneered by the United States but is tailored to Chinese strengths in mass production and systems integration.
