President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent 10-day official trip to China has resulted in a significant advancement in the strategic defense relationship between the two nations, long hailed by Beijing as its “ironclad brother.”
The President’s office confirmed that President Zardari became the “first” foreign leader to visit Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Advanced Aircraft Complex in Chengdu. During this landmark visit, Chinese authorities have briefed Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on advanced J-35 stealth fighter jets and unmanned aerial combat aircraft, with Pakistan expressing interest in modern Chinese defense technology.
Extensive Briefing on Advanced Capabilities
President Zardari received a comprehensive briefing on China’s latest aerospace capabilities. The focus areas of the briefing included:
- The J-35 stealth multirole combat aircraft
- The J-20 stealth fighter aircraft
- The J-10 fighter jet, which was previously described as “instrumental” in Pakistan’s four-day standoff with India in May
- Co-production of JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
- Fully automated units
- Integrated command-and-control systems for multi-domain operations
Murtaza Solangi, the president’s spokesman, confirmed that President Zardari during his visit to the sprawling complex in Chengdu, boarded a J-10 fighter jet.
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Commitment to Parity in Defence Field
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, who accompanied the President, underscored Pakistan’s resolute commitment to maintaining regional security balance. The Senator noted that while the transfer of modern technology and defense equipment takes time, “One thing is certain Pakistan will not allow its neighboring [enemy] country to dominate it and will remain its equal in the defense field.”
He further projected that in the coming times, defense cooperation between the two countries will further increase, bringing the “world’s best technology to Pakistan.” This push for modernization is supported by strong historical data, as over the past five years, China has supplied 81 percent of Pakistan’s imported weapons, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Operational Context and Broader Ties
The timing of this defense technology review comes months after Pakistan declared victory in a military standoff with India that saw Islamabad use China’s J-10Cs fighter jets. This successful operational deployment highlights the crucial role of advanced Chinese equipment in Pakistan’s defensive posture.
Beyond the strategic defense discussions, the visit was also aimed at strengthening social ties with China. Senator Mandviwalla confirmed that six agreements were signed between Pakistan and China, four of which were business-to-business deals, demonstrating the breadth of the deepening bilateral relationship.
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