It is said that the intimate relationship between China and Pakistan is "sweeter than honey, deeper than the sea, and stronger than iron", and the Chinese people even more affectionately call Pakistan "Pakistan Railway". A recent report by the Indian media has used data to illustrate this close relationship.
According to the Hindustan Times, data released in March by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Sweden showed that between 2017 and 2021, China met 72% of Pakistan's major weapons needs.
Then-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan boarded a Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet in March
The study, which focuses on arms transfers and conflicts, provides data showing that China consolidated Pakistan's position as the largest supplier of major weapons, including fighter jets, warships, submarines and missiles, between 2017 and 2021.
Meanwhile, SIPRI said 47 percent of all major arms exported by China during the same period went to Pakistan.
While some of these weapons programs are labeled "joint production" or "joint projects" — alluding to Pakistan's significant research and design investment — in reality, in most cases, even for Pakistan-specific requirements, research and development comes primarily or exclusively from China.
SIPRI said the most closely watched major arms deals between China and Pakistan include the continued supply of JF-17 Raiden light fighter jets. Starting this year, Pakistan has received a "greatly improved" version of the Block-3, the latest fighter equipped with an active phased array radar and advanced long-range air-to-air missiles, and can operate in tandem with other Chinese military aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force, such as the newly delivered J-10C and ZDK-04 AWACS.
Simon Weezmann, a senior researcher at SIPRI's arms transfer program, also said that "the delivery of the first J-10C fighters began earlier this year, which is the first time China has exported the aircraft." It is more advanced than the JF-17. ”
The J-10C has been exported to Pakistan
The first J-10Cs acquired by Pakistan have already appeared at the country's National Day parade, showing that the Pakistan Air Force is so familiar with this advanced fighter that it can be quickly picked up after delivery.
Mr. Weizman said China doesn't just provide fighter jets. "These Chinese fighters have been followed by various types of guided bombs and air-to-surface missiles, as well as advanced long-range air-to-air missiles. The latter was one of the reasons Why India bought Rafale fighters from France, equipped with Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, which were considered a technological advantage for the Pakistan Air Force, but now India has spent a lot of money to gain this advantage that has been erased by Pakistan's newly introduced Chinese missiles."
Pakistan's Khalid main battle tank
In terms of ground equipment, China also supplies the Licensed Type 90-2M main battle tanks in Pakistan, which are known in Pakistan as the Khalid series main battle tanks. "At the same time, Pakistan is also importing more advanced VT-4 tanks directly from China," Weezerman said. ”
What has made india even more concerned is that "China is trying to counter India's influence in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea by arming the Pakistani navy, and warships are important issues for China and Pakistan."
The Pakistan Navy introduced Chinese frigates
"China and Pakistan have signed supply contracts for four Type 054A/P frigates: the first of which will be delivered in 2021 and the other three will be delivered in 2022," Weezmann said. China is also building eight Type 041 conventional submarines for Pakistan, which are scheduled for delivery between 2022 and 2028, four of which will be licensed for production in Pakistan.
"They are large advanced conventional submarines and there are reports/rumors that they could also be installed by Pakistan as nuclear weapons carriers."
SIPRI also revealed that over the past few years, negotiations between China and Pakistan on major projects such as the introduction of artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles and air defense systems have been ongoing or have begun.
Pakistan also has a wish list for Chinese research: including fifth-generation fighter jets, long-range anti-aircraft missile systems and large warships, such as "Type 054 or something else in China's fairly large warship catalog."
In conclusion, the report acknowledges that the trend towards Pakistan's increasing reliance on China for its major weapons over the past 20 years is now fully established.
"We don't think that will change, mainly because the U.S. has abandoned Pakistan and shifted more toward India as its main partner in the region," Weizman said. ”
However, the Indian media also admitted that the outside world should not read too much about the military trade relationship between China and Pakistan. Some Chinese experts said Pakistan has the right to buy weapons from any country. "As a sovereign state, Pakistan can buy from any other country, including China or the United States."