According to a report by Asian Defense and Security on November 30, multiple Chinese Y-20 large transport aircraft were suspected to have landed at a Pakistani base.

This unverified information is seen as an indication that China may be secretly transporting advanced equipment to Pakistan.

Analysts believe that the arrival of the Y-20 fleet coincides with the recent accelerated military cooperation between China and Pakistan, possibly indicating the delivery of some high-value strategic materials.

As for what was delivered, various speculations exist, including the J-35.

However, the most realistic and plausible delivery is the next-generation air-to-air missiles, including the PL-15E and PL-17E.

The JF-17 and J-10C of the Pakistan Air Force are experiencing a rapid increase in demand for medium-range and long-range BVR missiles, which rely on large transport aircraft for bulk delivery. These missiles are small in size, high in value, and easy to transport in sealed packaging, giving them an inherent advantage in terms of confidentiality.

Secondly, key components of the HQ-9BE air defense system, including phased array radar arrays, fire control modules, and missile launch boxes, could also be involved.

A third possibility is key components and weapon supplies of the Z-10 series helicopters. Pakistan has deployed Z-10s at multiple bases, and their supply needs are increasing. After disassembly, the fuselage sections, rotors, engines, and pylon of the helicopters can all be transported via transport aircraft.

Y-20

Additionally, medium-sized equipment such as fighter jet avionics upgrade packages, electronic warfare pods, AESA radar modification parts, and WS-10 engines are also highly feasible.

As for the J-35 mentioned in the rumors, it seems unrealistic.

On one hand, the body size and wingspan of the J-35 exceed the Y-20's cargo door frame, requiring the dismantling of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and a lot of internal structures to fit inside, which not only carries a high risk but also completely contradicts the conventional delivery logic.

On the other hand, Pakistan has not officially announced the procurement of the J-35, and its domestic maintenance system has not been established yet. If the delivery really takes place, it would necessarily be accompanied by relevant training personnel, ground equipment, and supporting components, which cannot be achieved by simply sending a few transport planes secretly.

J-35

It should be noted that the claim of the Y-20's frequent arrival in Pakistan is not new, and it is basically based on speculation.

Based on existing public information, official statements, and technical analysis, the rumor of multiple Y-20s arriving in Pakistan still lacks verifiable evidence, and cannot support the claim of "a large-scale transport aircraft formation landing at night."

If there were indeed a large-scale strategic weapons delivery, China and Pakistan would not allow the outside world to easily capture the action trajectory through scattered clues, especially in regions under long-term monitoring by India and the United States.

Considering all factors, the so-called "multiple Y-20s secretly flying to Pakistan" is more like a narrative speculation generated by regional tensions, rather than a concrete event.

Pakistan and India flags

Nevertheless, the repeated emergence of such rumors is worth being vigilant about, indicating that many people are always watching China and Pakistan, treating any slight movement as a "major sign."

The South Asian situation is already in a long-term state of high tension. Indian media's sensitivity to Sino-Pakistani cooperation has been consistently high. As soon as a blurry flight track screenshot or an unverified base photo appears, it will be quickly magnified into a "strategic turning point."

This narrative is not based on facts but on geopolitical anxiety—India is worried about further rapprochement between China and Pakistan, while the United States is concerned about China's growing influence in South Asia. Regional media, on the other hand, seeks attention by exaggerating crises.

In this atmosphere, rumors have become a tool of public opinion, which anyone can use to shape the security narrative they want.

From this perspective, whether the Y-20 actually flew to Pakistan has become less important. What matters more is that it has been used by certain people as a symbol to amplify regional tensions, repeatedly brought up, exaggerated, and pushed the South Asian narrative towards increasingly confrontational directions.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7578782324045709864/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.