Big concern for India and US as this country remains world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, Pakistan emerges as top buyer, Pentagon report reveals…
The same report also indicates that China delivered four naval frigates to Pakistan between 2017 and 2018.
Several key findings related to the Chinese military were presented in the US Department of Defense’s 2025 report titled ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.’ This report mentioned that China continues to position itself as the world’s fourth-largest arms supplier, with Pakistan being the largest and most significant of its defense customers. The report also states that China, by December 2024, sold a considerable amount of military equipment to various nations and regions throughout the world, with the majority being small arms supplied to Third World countries. Additionally, China has also provided Pakistan with military hardware with the capability of attacking land, air, and sea.
Which country remains the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter?
“As of December 2024, China remained the world’s fourth-largest arms supplier, primarily using state-run organizations such as Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) for its exports. China sells major defense equipment in the air, land, and maritime domains category of conventional military equipment to its customers,” reads the US Department of Defense’s 2025 report titled ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.’
The report further mentioned that the Chinese government has provided Pakistan with 36 J-10C multirole fighter jets, the only country in the world to receive these combat aircraft from China. The same report also indicates that China delivered four naval frigates to Pakistan between 2017 and 2018. Furthermore, China delivered to Pakistan various military drones such as the “Caihong” and “Wing Loong UAVs,” which illustrate how militarily and technologically cooperative the two nations have grown over time.
The report further confirms that China offers three combat aircraft for export, including the fifth generation FC-31 and the fourth-generation J-10C multirole combat aircrafts, and the China-Pakistan coproduced JF-17 light combat aircraft.
Also, military drones have also been supplied from China to several other nations, including Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, Myanmar, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. In 2017 and 2018, China sold two frigates to Bangladesh and four to Pakistan, respectively. The report mentioned, ‘As of May 2025: delivered 20 units— their only J-10C exports –to Pakistan
as part of two previous orders totaling 36 since 2020.’
During the next five years, China probably will grow its naval export market, adding to a customer base that currently includes Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. According to the Pentagon’s Annual Report on China, many developing nations, particularly in Africa, are acquiring arms from China due to the lower cost of these products relative to comparable Western ones. In contrast to the high prices associated with many large Western countries, China has made it easier for many of these nations to acquire weapons while addressing their apprehensions about the quality and reliability of Chinese weapons through major financial investments in China provided by the Chinese government. “China recognizes that some potential customers view their arms as lower in quality or reliability, and thus offers financial incentives such as trade for minerals and flexible payment options” the report added.
What's Your Reaction?
