A new report claims that the recent conflict between Pakistan and India provides a “de facto test environment for Chinese military exports” since China provides the majority of Pakistan’s imported weapons.
According to CNN, shares of China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft stocks increased by 40% this week after Pakistan claimed that it used J-10C fighter jets produced by AVIC to shoot down Indian military aircraft during a Wednesday aerial conflict.
CNN reported that India has not acknowledged the loss of any aircraft or issued a response to Pakistan’s claims. Asked about Pakistan’s alleged use of the AVIC J-10C fighter jets, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman indicated on Thursday that he was not familiar with the matter, according to CNN.
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 defense systems, naval vessels, and UAVs.”
Data shared by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicates that between 2020 and 2024, over 60% of Chinese arms exports were sent to Pakistan and that China has supplied roughly 81% of Pakistan’s imported arms over the last five years.
“It’s certainly likely that Pakistan used Chinese aircraft,” Seth Jones, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ defense and security department, said.
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In a statement to CNBC, Yang explained that the conflict between Pakistan and India “serves as a positive testament to the quality of Chinese-made arms, given the performance of Pakistan’s fighter jets and air defense systems against India’s French- and Soviet-made aircraft.”
According to CNN, while China has not fought in a major conflict in over four decades, the country has spent significant resources in the pursuit of advanced military weapons and technology under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s leadership. The outlet noted that China has also helped Pakistan advance its military and described Pakistan as China’s “ironclad brother.”
Highlighting the significance of the current conflict for China, Asia-Pacific Foundation International Security Director Sajjan Gohel said, “This makes any engagement between India and Pakistan a de facto test environment for Chinese military exports.”
“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 Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow, said. “This isn’t just a bilateral clash anymore; it’s a glimpse of how Chinese defense exports are reshaping regional deterrence.”
