China's fighter jets spark interest of world militaries after Pak-India clash
Claims that Chinese-made fighter jets and
air-to-air missiles were successfully used by Pakistan in a recent clash with
India have sparked a wave of nationalist pride in China and renewed strategic
warnings to Taiwan. While official confirmation remains limited, the reported
combat debut of the J-10C fighter and PL-15 missile system is being heralded by
Chinese media as a major milestone for the country's defense industry.
During the four-day confrontation earlier this
month, Pakistani officials said their forces used Chinese-manufactured J-10C
fighters to down multiple Indian jets. Although New Delhi has not publicly
acknowledged any aircraft losses, and Beijing has not formally verified the
reports, the incident has ignited significant discussion across Chinese state
and social media.
“This is the most convincing appearance of the
Chinese weapon system on the world stage,” wrote Hu Xijin, former editor of the
Global Times, in a widely shared blog
post. He and others portrayed the clash as a de facto arms trial between
Chinese and Western military technologies, highlighting that some of the Indian
aircraft reportedly downed were French-built.
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Boosting Beijing's Regional Messaging
The reported success has fed into Beijing’s
strategic messaging, especially regarding Taiwan. The J-10C, frequently
deployed in Chinese military drills near Taiwan, had never seen live combat
until now. Its perceived performance has bolstered Chinese confidence in its
readiness for potential conflict scenarios in the Taiwan Strait or South China
Sea.
“Taiwanese experts say the Taiwanese military
has no chance against the J-10C,” the Global
Times declared in a recent article, amplifying pro-Beijing voices that
suggest Chinese systems are now competitive with — or superior to — their
Western counterparts.
Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel in China’s
People’s Liberation Army, argued the real takeaway was the global perception of
Chinese military progress:
“This is for [the world, including Taiwan] to
think about — how much China’s defense industry has advanced.”
A Proxy Test of Arms?
Security analysts say the skirmish underscored
the emerging arms divide in South Asia, where India is deepening ties with Western
defense suppliers while Pakistan increasingly relies on Chinese military
hardware. Along with the J-10C, Pakistani forces reportedly deployed
Chinese-made PL-15 long-range missiles and air-defense systems. While Pakistan
claimed the missiles successfully hit their targets, Indian defense sources
said they managed to jam the air-defense systems “within 23 minutes,” asserting
a technological edge.
China’s official response has remained
cautious. State media delayed confirming the jets' involvement until more than
a week after Pakistani announcements. Analysts say the restraint likely
reflects Beijing’s interest in maintaining a fragile diplomatic thaw with
India, as the two countries recently resumed direct flights and restarted trade
talks after years of border tensions.
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Taiwan's Calculated Response
In Taiwan, the incident has triggered a mix of
caution and concern. Retired Taiwanese military officials have acknowledged the
implications of the reported jet performance.
“Whether our fighter jets would even have the
opportunity to take off is a question mark,” said Li Cheng-chieh, a retired
Taiwanese Air Force major general.
However, others have urged calm. Ou Si-fu, a
defense researcher in Taipei, warned against overreaction:
“It’s like an alarm clock, reminding everyone
not to be careless. But we must remember the situation is still unclear.
There’s no confirmed evidence yet that Chinese missiles brought down those
jets.”
A Moment of Reflection for China’s Military
Ambitions
Though it hasn’t engaged in full-scale warfare
in over four decades, China is aggressively modernizing its military under
President Xi Jinping, who has made it a core national priority. China is
currently the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, and the perceived success
of its systems in live conflict may serve as a significant boost to global
defense sales and geopolitical messaging.
For Beijing, the India-Pakistan clash has
become more than a regional skirmish — it's being shaped into a showcase of
Chinese technological capability and strategic readiness.
As
tensions continue in Asia’s flashpoints, the recent conflict serves as both a
testing ground and a warning — one closely watched by policymakers from New
Delhi to Taipei to Washington.
Source: New York Times