The collapse of Iran’s air defenses in the face of Israeli attacks has prompted influential Chinese commentators to say it could have fared better if it had been supplied with Chinese weaponry.
Chinese fighter aircraft proved themselves in combat for Pakistan during its recent confrontation with India, with Pakistani forces claiming to have shot down Indian jets.
“Iran’s biggest mistake was not purchasing weapons from China,” wrote “Former HR himself,” a Weibo account with two million followers.
Newsweek reached out to the Iranian and Chinese foreign ministeries by email with requests for comment.
Why It Matters
The Chinese comments on the failure of Iran’s air defenses, which were largely dependent on Russian systems, highlight the increasing prominence of the latest Chinese weapons technology and China’s desire to secure new markets for it.
The apparent success of Chinese air power in the confrontation between India and Pakistan had already elevated its profile, with stocks in Chinese defense company AVIC Shenyang soaring by 10 percent on last week’s news that Pakistan planned to acquire 40 of its J-35 fighters.
Countries unable to acquire advanced fighter jets from the U.S. are increasingly turning to China as an alternative supplier, as Beijing positions itself as a viable competitor by ramping up exports and strategic partnerships, as well as showcasing its aircraft in military drills.
What To Know
China Central Television program Defense Review said that netizens from several Muslim-majority countries had called on their governments to introduce the Chinese J-35 fighter jet immediately after seeing what had happened in Iran.
These calls—from nationals of Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Algeria, and others—illustrated a growing desire to strengthen security partnerships with China as a way to counter U.S.-built hardware, such as the F-35s flown by Israel, the report said.
This narrative was also taken up by Hu Xijin, the outspoken former editor of the state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times, who has nearly 25 million followers on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.
“If Iran had several dozen J-10s, plus a Hongqi series missile air defense system, and with Pakistan’s level of air defense, it would probably not be as easily struck by Israel like this,” Hu wrote in the now-deleted post. The J-10 is an older generation fighter than the J-35.
Once heavily reliant on Russian imports, China has transitioned to developing its own advanced aircraft—demonstrating growing self-sufficiency and competitiveness that may surpass Russia, experts say.
A recent analysis report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reveals revealed that Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates were the primary recipients of China’s arms sales. The UAE has once eyed American F-35 jets.
What People Are Saying
“Former HR himself,” a Weibo account with 2 million followers, wrote Saturday: “Small drone strikes and countermeasures against air defense missiles were not strong enough. Iran’s biggest mistake was not purchasing weapons from China.”
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) wrote in a March report: “While China is looking to increase its arms exports globally, many of the world’s largest importers still choose not to buy major arms from China for political reasons.
“The bulk of Chinese arms exports (77 percent) went to states in Asia and Oceania, followed by those in Africa (14 percent). China delivered major arms to 44 states in 2020–24, but almost two-thirds of its arms exports (63 percent) went to just one state: Pakistan.”
Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters Monday: “We stand ready to maintain communication and coordination with relevant parties, play a constructive role for the deescalation of the situation, and create a favorable environment for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.”
What Happens Next
Israel’s success against Iran could push that country towards acquiring Chinese air defense systems in the future. Other countries in the Middle East and beyond are likely to be watching and potentially looking more seriously at Chinese systems.
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