By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Published: 09 May 2025 • 23:09
• 2 minutes read
China and West military technology clash over India and Pakistan | Photo: Rehan Waheed/Sshutterstock
The recent escalation between India and Pakistan has inadvertently spotlighted Chinese military technology in a real-world combat scenario, offering a rare glimpse into its performance against Western-made systems. This development has significant implications for global defence dynamics and arms trade.
On May 7, 2025, a significant aerial confrontation unfolded between India and Pakistan, involving over 100 fighter jets, according to a US Sun report. Pakistan claimed that its Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, equipped with PL-15 missiles, successfully downed several Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafales. Over the past five years, China has supplied 81 per cent of Pakistan’s imported weapons, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
According to CNBC, Yang Zi, an associate research fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said, “Pakistan is the largest buyer of Chinese arms, including fighter jets, air defence systems, naval vessels, and UAVS.”
China and West observe their weapons clash
While India has not confirmed the losses, the incident marks a notable instance where Chinese and Western military technologies have directly clashed.
“This makes any engagement between India and Pakistan a de facto test environment for Chinese military exports,” said Sajjan Gohel, international security director at the Asia-Pacific Foundation, a think tank based in London.
Despite not having fought a major war for over 40 years, China is a rising military superpower. One that, according to Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, must be closely watched, as in his opinion, they aim to have the capacity to combat the US military successfully.
China’s ‘ironclad’ brother
Under leader Xi Jinping, China has raced to modernise its armed forces, channelling significant resources into developing sophisticated weaponry and cutting-edge technologies. It has also extended that modernisation drive to Pakistan, which Beijing has long hailed as its “ironclad brother,” CNN said.
The reported success of Chinese weaponry in this conflict has led to a surge in the stock value of China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, the manufacturer of the J-10C. This suggests increased confidence in Chinese military exports and could influence future arms sales, particularly in regions with limited access to Western technology.
The conflict demonstrates the deepening military ties between China and Pakistan, with China supplying a significant portion of Pakistan’s military hardware.
This partnership alters the strategic balance in South Asia and reflects broader geopolitical shifts, as nations reassess alliances and defence strategies in response to evolving global power dynamics.
A glimpse of China’s defence reshaping regional conflict
Chinese and Pakistani militaries have participated in increasingly sophisticated joint air, sea and land exercises, including combat simulations and crew-swapping drills.
“Beijing’s long-standing support for Islamabad – through hardware, training, and now increasingly AI-enabled targeting – has quietly shifted the tactical balance,” Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the US-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies, told CNN.
“This isn’t just a bilateral clash anymore; it’s a glimpse of how Chinese defence exports are reshaping regional deterrence,” he added.
With Pakistan primarily armed by China and India sourcing over 50 per cent of its military power from the United States and its allies, all conflicts between the two neighbours might be seen as a showdown between Chinese and Western military technologies.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, recognising that the outcomes of such regional conflicts have far-reaching implications beyond their immediate theatres.
