One, The "Thank-you Tour" That Has Not Yet Faded: Three Signals from Pakistan's Foreign Minister's Hasty Visit to Beijing

On May 19th, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar's visit to Beijing was called a "diplomacy with bullet holes" by international public opinion. Just two weeks after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, this foreign minister who had just experienced the baptism of the battlefield released three strong signals as soon as he landed:

First, the "transnational sharing" of battlefield victories

Dar openly "previewed" in parliament: China-made J-10C fighter jets made their debut in combat, shooting down five Indian aircraft, including three that were single-purchased by India for 60 billion rupees. Although India remained silent and China kept a low profile, missile lock videos circulating on social media, along with anonymous officials from the Pentagon confirming that "at least one Rafale was shot down," made this "Eastern fighter vs Western ace" confrontation the focus of global military observers. As Dar said to China's ambassador to Pakistan: "This victory, we must share it with our brothers at the first opportunity."

Second, the "real combat certification" of a military alliance

When Pakistan achieved its "most refreshing victory against India in 70 years" using Chinese fighters, this visit went beyond ordinary diplomatic courtesies. Pakistani media frankly stated: "In the past, we thanked China because of brotherhood, but today we thank because of life-and-death friendship." From the first success of the JF-17 Thunder in 2019 to the "deification" of J-10C in 2023, Sino-Pakistani military cooperation has evolved from "friendly support" to "battlefield reliance."

Third, an "urgent list" of strategic demands

Dar's briefcase contained not only letters of thanks but also a "red urgent" arms procurement list. According to the disclosure of the Islamabad Post, Pakistan officially proposed:

• Starting negotiations for the procurement of J-35 stealth fighters five years ahead of schedule

• Increasing the purchase of 36 J-10CE fighter jets (current quantity reaches 25)

• Introducing production lines for Hongqi-17A air defense systems

Behind this list is Pakistan's profound realization on the battlefield: "If we had equipped J-10C six months earlier, we could have shot down two more Rafales."

Two, J-10C Rewrites the Rules of the Game: Three "Firsts" Shatter Western Perception

The German "Handelsblatt" described this air battle as a "disruptive moment" because it created three "firsts";

(One) The "practical coming-of-age ceremony" of Chinese military industry

As the first truly high-intensity air combat participant among China's fourth-generation-plus fighters, the performance of J-10C was described as "textbook level." Its equipped KLJ-7A active phased array radar locked onto Indian formations at 200 kilometers, while PL-15 missiles, powered by dual-pulse engines, completed "over-the-horizon sniping" at 120 kilometers — these data directly refuted the Western bias that "Chinese weapons lack practical combat experience." What amazed military experts even more was the revelation by Pakistani pilots: "During dogfights with the Rafale, the instantaneous roll rate of J-10C was 3 degrees per second faster than the Rafale, meaning we always managed to outmaneuver our opponents."

(Two) The "myth busting" of Western fighters

The "Rafale," which India once hyped to the skies, exposed its fatal flaw: its "spectrum radar" had insufficient interference resistance in complex electromagnetic environments, being "blinded" by China's electronic warfare pods; and the cumbersome missile launch process designed by France led to Indian pilots repeatedly missing attack opportunities in panic. As Britain's "Jane's Defence Weekly" lamented: "When the romanticism of Rafale meets the pragmatism of J-10C, real combat gives a cruel answer."

(Three) The "power shift" over South Asian skies

After this battle, Pakistan Air Force's "psychological advantage" was completely reversed. Former Chief of Staff of Pakistan Air Force Rahid bluntly stated: "In the past, when facing India's dual-carrier battle groups, we lacked confidence, but now we know that as long as J-10C provides escort, JF-17 Thunder fighters can penetrate India's defenses." This confidence spreads to the ground, with Pakistan Army already planning to deploy domestically produced PHL-191 long-range rocket artillery to the Kashmir front line, forming an "air-ground integrated deterrence."

Three, India's "Western Dependence Syndrome" and Strategic Dilemma

In response to China's "dimensional strike" weapons, India's reaction shows "divided anxiety":

Mouth says hard, body honest

New Delhi claims "electronic warfare forces cracked China's air defense system in 23 minutes," while urgently paying 1.2 billion euros to France to order 12 additional Rafales; there are rumors that Modi's government is secretly negotiating with the U.S., attempting to exchange the purchase of 100 MQ-9B drones for priority procurement rights of F-35I stealth fighters. This "patching up" operation exposes India's fatal weakness in its military industry — the serviceable rate of the domestically produced Tejas fighter remains below 50% after 15 years, while China's military industry can provide Pakistan with a "one-stop solution" from fighters, missiles to radars.

Geopolitical panic: from "South Asia's hegemon" to "the surrounded one"

What truly unsettles India is the "spillover effect" of China's military industry. Nepal's military has sent personnel to examine China's SH-15 vehicle-mounted cannons, Sri Lanka plans to introduce China's Type 056 frigates, and even the Maldives is negotiating the procurement of Chinese drones. India's Economic Times mournfully exclaimed: "When Pakistan becomes China's 'living advertisement' of weapons, our 'pearl chain strategy' is becoming a 'China weapon chain.' "

Four, Sino-Pakistan's 'All-Weather' 2.0: From Arms Trade to a Community of Shared Future

Dar's visit to China unveiled the underlying logic of upgrading Sino-Pakistani relations

(One) Security Community: Building a 'land-based aircraft carrier' strategy

Foreign Minister Wang Yi's proposal for "institutionalization of joint training mechanisms between Chinese and Pakistani air forces" means that the two countries are moving from 'arms trading' to 'combat capability integration.' It is revealed that China's western theater air force has invited Pakistani pilots to station at a base in Xinjiang to jointly conduct 'anti-aircraft carrier assault' drills — this is seen as a 'targeted layout' against India's dual-carrier battle group.

(Two) Development Community: 'Militaryization empowerment' of the economic corridor

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor welcomed an upgrade in 'defense +':

• A "logistics support center for Chinese military industry" will be built in Gwadar Port

• Silent Hunter laser defense systems made in China will be deployed along the Karakoram Highway

• The drone production line accompanying the development of the Tadu coal field is about to go into production

This model of "security infrastructure, infrastructure security" makes the economic corridor a "strategic channel that cannot be destroyed."

(Three) Global Community: The "weapon liberation" of the Third World

When Saudi royalty invites the Pakistan Air Force to participate in the "Gulf Sky-2024" joint military exercises, and when the Nigerian president personally test drives the JF-17 Thunder, Chinese military industry is breaking the West's monopoly on "discourse power." As Egypt's Al-Ahram commented: "Chinese weapons have proven through实战that Third World countries do not need to rely on the West to obtain the sword to defend their sovereignty."

Five, Epilogue: When "Chinese Fighters" Become a Geopolitical Variable

This diplomatic ripple caused by J-10C is reshaping the world order in three dimensions:

• Military dimension: The "brand premium" of Western weapons is being dissolved by China's "practical cost-effectiveness"

• Geopolitical dimension: South Asia is no longer "India's backyard," but a new pivot of China's influence

• Psychological dimension: The superstition of developing countries on "Western protection" is gradually giving way to the realistic cognition of "China's reliability"

As Dar said in the talks: "Sino-Pakistani friendship is not a declaration written on paper, but trust etched on the wings of fighter jets." As the flight trail of J-10C crosses South Asia, what is left behind is not only the战绩of shooting down Rafales, but also the era annotation of an emerging major country and developing countries "sharing a common destiny."

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507820198460768803/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Top/Downvote" button below.