Chinese Military Hardware Draws Buyers as Middle East Security Keeps Shifting

Visitors walk by an exhibit of artillery shells at last week's International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. Photo by Zoya Shu / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP.

Chinese missile systems occupied a prominent position at last week’s International Defense Exhibition in the United Arab Emirates. The event also saw the heavy promotion of China’s new J-35 stealth fighter aircraft. Many countries are scrambling to upgrade their arsenal amid the heavy use of drones and similar technologies in conflicts like Gaza.

Export equivalents of advanced domestic Chinese weapons are finding buyers in Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. For example, recent unverified reports stated that Egypt and Sudan have already bought Chinese J-10CE fighter jets. China’s growing market share is partly because Russia, a traditional supplier, is cutting back on international sales.

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by CGSP Staff

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