Why China may not supply J-35 stealth fighters to Pakistan anytime soon
Analysts suggest that China is unlikely to supply J-35 stealth fighters to Pakistan in the near future due to regional stability concerns and domestic military priorities. Beijing aims to avoid escalating tensions in South Asia while focusing on its own modernization and Western Pacific security.
Why it matters
The potential transfer of fifth-generation fighter technology would significantly alter the military balance between India and Pakistan, impacting regional security dynamics.
China's reported plans to supply its fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter to Pakistan have remained the subject of speculation for months, with neither Beijing nor Islamabad officially confirming a deal.In a piece published by The Diplomat, Yang Xiaotong, an assistant researcher at an independent Beijing think tank focused on China-Middle East and North Africa, argues that China is unlikely to approve the transfer of J-35 fighter anytime soon to Pakistan.According to Yang, one of the key reasons is the potential impact such a sale could have on South Asia's military balance. Neither India nor Pakistan currently operates a fifth-generation fighter in frontline service. The induction of around 40 J-35s into the Pakistan Air Force, he argues, could significantly alter the regional air power equation and increase strategic uncertainty.Yang argues that Beijing has little incentive to provide Islamabad with a decisive technological advantage that could encourage greater military risk-taking.
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