Arab News Japan

TOKYO: As India and Pakistan continue to trade accusations regarding ceasefire violations in Kashmir, China seems to emerge as the winner so far with its J-10 fighter jet reportedly the most superior combat aircraft involved in the conflict.

Nikkei Asia reported that 125 fighter jets from India and Pakistan engaged in an air battle without entering each other’s airspace, according to Japanese security experts. Chinese aircraft used air-to-air missiles against India’s Western-supplied jets, leading to at least two being downed.

The J-10C, or Chengdu J-10, is a medium-weight, single-engine multi-role combat aircraft produced by Chengdu Aircraft, a subsidiary of AVIC. The Pakistan Air Force introduced the J-10C in 2022 and currently has 20 in service.

Qamar Cheema, executive director of an Islamabad think tank, told Nikkei that the recent battle highlighted the effectiveness of Chinese military equipment. He mentioned that Pakistan sees Chinese technology as superior to European systems, a sentiment reportedly acknowledged by French intelligence regarding the downing of aircraft.

AVIC Chengdu Aircraft’s share price rose 16% on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, while AVIC Aerospace shares increased by 6% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

A report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute noted that 81% of Pakistan’s imported arms from 2020 to 2024 came from China.

Nikkei suggests that China’s military technology is being tested in real-world conflict scenarios and is boosting the credibility of Chinese equipment, strengthening China’s psychological and strategic standing, and showing its military equipment can match that of the West.