China’s weapons tested in Pakistan-India clash spark global scrutiny
Pakistan’s use of Chinese arms in its conflict with India ignites debate over Beijing’s growing defense export power.
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| Pakistan Air Force J-10 fighter jets fly over the President's House during the national day parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2025. Photo by Aamir Qureshi/AFP |
By Clarisa Sendy and Anna Fadiah
Just over a week after Pakistan and India agreed to a ceasefire, global defense analysts are closely examining the performance of Chinese weapons tested in the recent Pakistan-India clash. The sudden flare-up between the two nuclear-armed neighbors has turned into a real-time showcase of China’s military exports, raising questions about their effectiveness, limitations, and implications for the global arms trade.
The conflict, although limited in duration and scope, offered rare insight into how Chinese military technology performs when pitted against Western-made equipment—particularly India's French-manufactured Rafale fighter jets. As Pakistan's foreign minister visits Beijing, the political symbolism and battlefield data emerging from the brief war have stirred interest and debate among military experts, governments, and markets alike.
Pakistan claims success with Chinese jets
Islamabad's bold claim that its Chinese-supplied fighter jets shot down six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, has generated headlines and skepticism in equal measure. The Rafale, produced by Dassault Aviation, is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most sophisticated multirole fighters. In contrast, the Chinese-made J10-C, or Vigorous Dragon, which Pakistan deployed alongside the JF-17 Thunder, has never before seen live combat.
“This was a rare opportunity for the international community to gauge Chinese military hardware on the battlefield against Western (Indian) hardware,” said Lyle Morris from the Asia Society Policy Institute.
The fighting also marked the first operational use of the J10-C, adding to the intrigue. Analysts believe its radar and air-to-air missile systems may have given it a tactical advantage in aerial engagements—especially since the J10-C is built with air superiority in mind, unlike the more versatile Rafale.
Mixed results on the ground
Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese weapons was not limited to the air. Reports suggest Islamabad also deployed HQ-9P surface-to-air missile systems, Chinese radar technology, and a fleet of Chinese-made reconnaissance and armed drones. Pakistani air defenses were said to be braced with China-supplied tech across critical points near the conflict zone.
“This was the first sustained fight where the bulk of Pakistan's forces used Chinese weapons and, basically, relied on them as their primary option,” noted Bilal Khan, founder of the Quwa Defence News & Analysis Group based in Toronto.
Yet despite these developments, India has not confirmed the loss of any aircraft. A senior Indian security official told AFP that three jets had indeed crashed within Indian territory but declined to disclose whether they were shot down or if technical failure was involved.
Chinese air defense systems did not perform as impressively as expected, according to Pakistani sources. India claimed to have neutralized at least one HQ-9P battery near Lahore, a claim that, if true, raises questions about the resilience of Chinese missile systems under combat pressure.
China’s stake in the arms race
Pakistan is the largest buyer of Chinese weapons, accounting for around 63 percent of Beijing’s arms exports according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The recent use of these systems in a high-profile state-on-state conflict marks the first such deployment of Chinese arms on this scale since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when both sides used Chinese weapons.
Chinese drones have been previously tested in conflicts such as Saudi Arabia's operations in Yemen and various African civil wars. However, none of these offered the kind of direct-state conflict theater that the India-Pakistan skirmish provided.
"This gives China a marketing edge,” said Yun Sun of the Stimson Center. “We most likely will see more orders going to Chinese contractors, especially from countries with fewer restrictions and budget limitations.”
China’s defense contractors are already seeing a bounce from the clash. Stock prices of Chengdu Aircraft Company, which manufactures the J10-C, rose more than 40 percent in the days following the skirmish.
Challenges remain for Chinese arms makers
Despite the apparent battlefield validation, experts caution that China is still far from replacing traditional Western arms suppliers. One major limitation is China’s ongoing struggle to mass-produce high-quality components like aircraft engines. Additionally, while hardware plays a vital role, training, doctrine, and strategic deployment are equally important in modern warfare.
“Having high-tech gear is just one part of the equation. Much more important is how that gear is deployed and maintained,” said Jennifer Kavanagh from Defense Priorities, a U.S. think tank.
Brian Hart of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) echoed the sentiment, noting that it’s difficult to extrapolate performance in this limited conflict to how Chinese weapons would fare against a highly advanced military like that of the United States.
“We have limited data points and an unclear understanding of the proficiency of the personnel operating these systems. That makes it hard to draw definitive conclusions,” Hart explained.
Diplomatic and strategic implications
The military dynamics are just one layer of a larger geopolitical chessboard. Pakistan’s turn to Chinese arms reflects a strategic deepening of ties between Beijing and Islamabad—especially in contrast to India’s growing defense cooperation with France, Israel, and the United States.
China, for its part, is eyeing a larger share of the global arms market, where it currently lags far behind the United States and Russia. However, Beijing's ambitions may now find stronger footing. While challenges remain—including quality assurance, after-sale support, and international reputation—the Pakistan-India clash has offered China something it sorely lacked: combat-tested credibility.
“There’s now a proof-of-concept moment for Chinese military exports,” said James Char from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. “Whether that turns into long-term gains depends on how China follows up—with better products, stronger partnerships, and transparency.”
A turning point or a blip?
For now, the question remains: Was this a turning point for China’s emergence as a credible military exporter, or merely a blip amplified by political theater and limited skirmish data?
Experts say it’s too early to tell. The fog of war continues to obscure key details, and without confirmed damage assessments or independent verification, much of the analysis remains speculative.
Still, one thing is clear—China’s weapons tested in the Pakistan-India clash have sparked a global conversation. Whether that talk translates into hard power or sustained sales will depend on how well China learns from this moment—and how effectively it improves not only its arms, but also its credibility on the world stage.
More from Pakistan coverage
- Pakistan foreign minister visits China after India ceasefire deal
- India urges IAEA to monitor Pakistan’s nuclear weapons after Kashmir clash
- A military escalation that risks triggering economic ruin in Pakistan
