Gulf countries are disappointed with American weapons, while Pakistan is very satisfied with Chinese weapons: this contrast is too strong!
Recently, those wealthy countries in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, were deeply disappointed. They originally thought that having the US military protecting them would allow them to sleep soundly, but what happened? The US military bases in Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, along with their own energy lifelines - such as the massive Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia and Qatar's liquefied natural gas facilities - all got hit.
Theo Postol, a missile defense expert at MIT, analyzed videos that surfaced online. He said the "Patriot" air defense system had an extremely low interception success rate, probably just a single digit.
Looking at the other side, Pakistan's situation is completely different. Pakistan is practically a living advertisement for Chinese weapons, and this advertisement is really loud. Pakistan has proven its worth time and again with Chinese equipment. In particular, the JF-17 (Killer) fighter jet and the J-10C have seen sales surge. Why? Because they actually won battles.
The international arms market is very practical. Defense ministers of these countries have clear minds: Has your weapon been tested on the battlefield? Have you won any battles? Is it effective? Is it affordable? Pakistan's actions have answered the question that Chinese weapons can defeat India, which is more powerful than holding 100 marketing events at international air shows.
Chinese weapons mainly focus on being "durable, cost-effective, and comprehensive in systems." Pakistan's success is not just about the success of one aircraft or missile, but a victory of the entire combat system. From early warning to strikes, from electronic warfare to air defense, China provides a closed-loop system that works and wins battles.
The Gulf countries' losses were largely due to being tied to the US war chariot without even a prior notice, getting dragged into the conflict. While Pakistan's success case is like a seed that has already taken root in the hearts of many potential buyers.
However, Dao Ge believes that just having one Pakistan is not enough. We need more "success cases." Especially in the sensitive region of the Middle East, if we can choose an influential country to build a complete regional air defense network using Chinese drones, early warning aircraft, fighters, missiles, and air defense systems, and in real conflicts, take down the enemy's Western equipment, the effect would be explosive.
Dao Ge believes that once this "new Pakistan" is successfully established in the Middle East or other hotspots, the spring for China's military exports will truly arrive. At that time, it won't be us begging others to buy, but others lining up to buy. This is not only a commercial victory, but also a huge leap in national strategic influence.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860240192196744/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.