ISLAMABAD: Chinese-made weapons have demonstrated strong battlefield performance during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, French state broadcaster France 24 reported.
The report highlights Pakistan’s use of Chinese J-10C fighter jets to down six Indian aircraft, including three French-built Rafales, marking the first major combat test of Chinese arms against Western-made weaponry.
France 24 stated in its report that in its first battlefield test against Western arms, Chinese weapons mostly hit the mark, sparking interest in some military circles and alarm in some capitals.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in his address in the National Assembly, said that Pakistan’s J-10Cs shot down three Indian Rafales. He was referring to the Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon, a Chinese multipurpose fighter jet.
The Chinese delegation was very pleased with the J-10 performance on the battlefield, Ishaq Dar said. “Being a friendly nation, they expressed great happiness,”
Yun Sun, director of the China Programme at the Washington DC-based Stimson Centre, highlighted two key facts from the clash.
Indian weapons were not as effective as thought, and India’s strategic intent might be more ambitious than expected.
Carlotta Rinaudo, a Chinese expert at the International Team for the Study of Security Verona, noted that perception is key in initial assessments, calling China’s J-10 jet performance a “big victory in terms of perception for a country that hasn’t fought the war.
The Chinese expert said that the clash is likely to enhance international recognition and confidence in Chinese arms, challenging long-held views of their inferiority to Western arms.
Sun, however, warned against facile assessments of Chinese arms superiority, noting that there are several factors contributing to battleground effectiveness.
“At the same time, it’s also the training of the pilots, the coordination among different weapons systems that are important,” the Chinese expert said.
Pakistan, India tensions
Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India swiftly blamed Pakistan without presenting any credible evidence.
Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly denied the Indian allegations as baseless. Pakistan also offered a neutral and transparent international investigation into the incident. However, New Delhi did not respond to Pakistan’s offer and continued with its aggressive posture.
On the night of May 6-7, India launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Pakistan responded firmly and downed five Indian fighter jets and destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week.
On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan. According to the government, 40 civilians — including 7 women and 15 children — lost their lives in the Indian aggression, and 121 others sustained injuries.
