Since 2015, China has sold Pakistan weapons worth a total of $8.2 billion, Defense News reports citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRPI). Furthermore, the Asian country became the largest buyer of Chinese-made weapons throughout 2020–2024, while China itself was ranked as the fourth largest exporter in the global arms market.
Such close cooperation with China can play a major role in the recent and potential future armed exchanges between India and Pakistan. Especially since official Beijing demonstrates direct support for Islamabad.
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The most significant Chinese supplies to Pakistan were related to aviation: more than half of the 400 fighters in service with the Pakistani Air Force are Chinese JF-17 and J-10C aircraft.
The reliance on Chinese air defense is impressive as well: Pakistan fields short-range FM-90 (HQ-7) air defense systems, medium-range LY-80 (HQ-16) and long-range HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems.
In the past 5 years, between 2020 and 2024, defense orders from Pakistan amounted to a whole 63% of Chinese arms exports, making Islamabad notably stand out among other customers.
During the Indian missile and drone attacks on Pakistan, Chinese air defense equipment have reportedly proven themselves effective in repelling the strikes, and the J-10 fighter aircraft is credited for the downing of at least one Indian Air Force Rafale, showcasing how years-long investments yield returns on the battlefield.
The experts assume that these claimed successes of Chinese weapons can be further leveraged by Beijing to strengthen its geopolitical prestige and business prospects in the global arms market.
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