Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported on July 6 that the Pakistani military, which recently engaged in an armed clash with India, has publicly denied rumors of additional acquisitions of Chinese stealth fighter jets.
According to the report, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Minister of Defense, recently stated that no agreement had been reached between Pakistan and China for the purchase of stealth aircraft. He dismissed the rumors, saying, “I think this news exists only in the media, likely because it is beneficial for defense sales.” He added, “These reports are driven by commercial interests and are not based on facts.”
Rumors that Pakistan would purchase China’s fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter jets have reportedly circulated since the end of last year.
In November of last year, Pakistani broadcaster 24 News HD reported that the Pakistan Air Force had approved the purchase of 40 J-35 jets. The report stated that these aircraft were expected to be delivered within two years and would replace the currently operated U.S.-made F-16 and French-made Mirage fighters.
Subsequently, in May, Pakistan claimed that during an armed clash with India that nearly escalated into a full-scale war, it used J-10C fighters to shoot down six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets. Some analysts suggested that this incident changed the international perception of Chinese-made weaponry.
Chinese state media also promoted the technological prowess of the country’s defense industry, highlighting that the J-10 achieved the first combat shootdown of a Rafale.
Sing Tao Daily further reported that on the military forum of Chinese portal Tencent (Tengxunwang), some interpreted Pakistan’s sudden denial of the J-35 acquisition plan?citing American military media?as a move to ease tensions with India and to gain support from Western countries.
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