Analysis The Myth of Affordable Chinese Weapons Shatters Amid Repeated Combat Failures in Recent Conflicts

A series of recent combat failures involving Chinese-manufactured military hardware is casting serious doubt on China's ambitions to become a top-tier global arms supplier.

Weapons systems marketed as cost-effective alternatives to Western and Russian equipment have demonstrated significant performance issues in real-world conflicts, according to recent reports from Pakistan, Cambodia, and analysis of the recent conflict in Iran.

These incidents highlight a troubling pattern of unreliability that threatens to undermine the credibility of China's rapidly growing defence industry.

The Appeal and the Pitfall of Chinese Arms​

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has become the world's fourth-largest arms exporter. Its market success is built on a straightforward strategy: offering advanced-looking military technology at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

Systems like the J-10C fighter jet, Wing Loong-II drones, and the HQ-series of air defence missiles appeal to nations with limited defence budgets.

Furthermore, Beijing's willingness to supply arms to countries facing Western sanctions, such as Pakistan and Iran, has secured it a significant market share, with Pakistan alone accounting for over 60% of its exports.

However, evidence from the battlefield suggests this affordability comes at a significant price in quality, reliability, and combat effectiveness. A growing body of evidence points towards recurring issues, including poor manufacturing standards and an inability to withstand the pressures of modern warfare.

Chinese systems have particularly struggled when facing adversaries equipped with sophisticated electronic warfare, stealth technology, and precision-strike capabilities.

Case Study: Small Arms Failure in Cambodia​

The reliability issues were recently highlighted in Cambodia.

A video that circulated online in May 2025 showed a Cambodian soldier's Chinese-made light machine gun (LMG) repeatedly jamming during a border skirmish with Thailand.

The incident, occurring amid heightened tensions that led Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to activate a conscription law, brought global attention to the inconsistent performance of Chinese small arms under combat stress.

Such failures not only endanger the lives of soldiers but also severely damage user confidence in the equipment.

This is not an isolated event, as similar complaints about defective components in Chinese weapons have been reported previously by military forces in Nigeria and Myanmar.

Case Study: Pakistani Air Defence Network Overwhelmed​

Pakistan, China’s largest military hardware client, has heavily integrated Chinese technology into its armed forces.

In May 2025, this reliance was put to the test during India’s "Operation Sindoor," launched in response to a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The operation resulted in a catastrophic failure of its Chinese-supplied air defence network.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jets, using SCALP precision-strike missiles, successfully bypassed and neutralized Pakistan's air defence grid. Reports indicate that Chinese-made systems, including the HQ-9 and HQ-16 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and YLC-8E anti-stealth radars, were rendered ineffective by Indian electronic warfare tactics.

The systems failed to intercept any incoming missiles, and a key YLC-8E radar at Chunian Air Base was reportedly destroyed.

In addition, several Chinese-made Wing Loong-II drones operated by Pakistan were shot down by Indian air defences, further exposing their vulnerabilities.

An article in The Times of India noted the operation exposed "critical vulnerabilities" in Pakistan's arsenal, dealing a severe blow to China's reputation.

Speculation Over Iran Proves Hollow​

In June 2025, Israeli airstrikes successfully crippled approximately one-third of Iran’s air defence network, which primarily consists of Russian and locally-developed systems.

In the aftermath, some Chinese military commentators on social media platforms like Weibo claimed that Chinese weapons, such as the J-10C fighter and Hongqi-series SAMs, would have performed better.

However, these assertions are undermined by the documented performance of similar Chinese systems in Pakistan. The inability of China's premier air defence technology to counter Indian electronic warfare and precision missiles suggests they would be equally, if not more, vulnerable to Israel's highly advanced air force.

Global Repercussions for 'Made in China' Arms​

The cumulative impact of these battlefield failures represents a significant blow to the credibility of China's defence industry.

While China's arms exports are substantial, their concentration in a few key clients, particularly Pakistan, makes its market position vulnerable. The repeated underperformance of its systems risks alienating potential buyers who prioritise reliability over cost.

This situation creates a strategic opening for competitors.

Western and Israeli manufacturers may find new customers as nations re-evaluate the true cost and risk of relying on Chinese military technology, meanwhile nations like India are increasingly promoting their own combat-proven systems like the BrahMos missile and Akash air defence system as more affordable options with proven reliability.

 

Op-Sindoor was coordinated, calculated and complete in 22 minutes: Defence Minister

With 144 Missile Cells, India's Upcoming P-18 Stealth Destroyer Emerges as a Powerful Counter to Growing Indo-Pacific Naval Threats

[Alok Gupta]

Don't forget to add the Chinese submarines being supplied to Pakistan. They are already obsolete as Pakistan is inducting them, and their operational readiness is in question as they are already requiring repairs.

 

[GMR]

Not only defence, the communist party lies in majority of things to fool own citizens and nations for a false sense of superiority and to keep all in an aura of deception.

 

[Hari Sud]

Hastily built by China on copied and reverse-engineered technology from the West/Russia never makes good weapons. Most nations bought them because they were cheap, otherwise, they were bad in quality.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Don't let this delusion cloud our vision. Chinese weapons are getting there both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Not to forget that the spectrum of components manufactured by Chinese industry are so prolific that many components manufactured within India itself are sourced from China.

 

[Enforcer]

This is the main difference between battle-tested/improved American weapons and untested/unused Chinese maal.

 

[swatkats_razor]

This is the main difference between battle-tested/improved American weapons and untested/unused Chinese maal.

How much of our Indian weapon platform is tested? Not a lot I suppose.

 

[Enforcer]

How much of our Indian weapon platform is tested? Not a lot I suppose.

Ours are not much tested either. And that is what worries me honestly too. Best way to get real testing done is to sell to countries that are currently in conflict.

For example we won't know how good Tejas is or Astra missile is until we go to war.

 

[Bhishma]

Don't let this delusion cloud our vision. Chinese weapons are getting there both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Not to forget that the spectrum of components manufactured by Chinese industry are so prolific that many components manufactured within India itself are sourced from China.

Yes we can use made in China components and hammer them. I agree they could get better theoretically but as of today, they are junk. The problem is lack of cohesion. They dont have national pride. Its all "get rich quick" scammers over there. They have realized that the CCP is just few families benefitting. There is no ideology to bind them. They started with Communism. During Mao era, they had the cohesion. It has gradually become clear to everyone that it is few zamindar families benefiting at the expense of the rest. Thats why everyone is out for themselves conning and scamming. "Dog eat dog world" as they proudly say.

China has the scale and infrastructure to do better. But not the culture at the grass roots level. Which means this problem is not going to go away any time soon.

 

[Bks98]

Don't let this delusion cloud our vision. Chinese weapons are getting there both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Not to forget that the spectrum of components manufactured by Chinese industry are so prolific that many components manufactured within India itself are sourced from China.

They copy from others. How can that be reliable? HQ16 is a copied version of S300, and Russia deliberately sold S300, removing many features, to China as they knew they would copy it.

 

[swatkats_razor]

They copy from others. How can that be reliable? HQ16 is a copied version of S300, and Russia deliberately sold S300, removing many features, to China as they knew they would copy it.

This is very lazy thinking. Do you think the Chinese have become an industrial powerhouse by only blatantly copying without adding anything innovative on their own part?

Chinese companies like BYD are leaders in cell technologies. Huawei and ZTE are there with the best. Midea is the largest white goods manufacturer in the world and is driving innovation matching that of Samsung and LG.

Even in the field of defence, Chinese jets like the J-10 and J-20 are pretty good, considering they have managed to capture NATO's attention. Chinese copies of Soviet weapons such as the AK-56, J-15, and J-16 are commendable products, and Chinese aircraft like the Liaoning and Shandong, though based on the Soviet Admiral Kuznetsov class, do not suffer from its debilitating weakness. Proof that Chinese tech has progressed much beyond just copying and labeling.

 

[Sandeep]

This is something that is very well known. Some people below will defend the Chinese as they are infatuated and love them so much and they will make excuses for their weapons failure.

India needs to take advantage of this issue and sell our own weapons and technology to them. We also have many private companies who are also manufacturing a variety of high quality weapons.

 

[tinopol]

Hastily built by China on copied and reverse-engineered technology from the West/Russia never makes good weapons. Most nations bought them because they were cheap, otherwise, they were bad in quality.

Yeah. Chinese are cheats, unreliable friend and products. All are copied by copy wicked cats.

 

[Muks]

How much of our Indian weapon platform is tested? Not a lot I suppose.

Well. You are entitled to your opinion. However, any system inducted into Indian Armed forces be it Indian origin or foreign, are probably the most rigorously tested anywhere in the world. Our own R&D is definitely not as strong but don't underestimate our levels of testing.

In fact the most common complaint about the Indian Military from vendors is they test it to death.

 

[Mc Addy]

Quantity also has a quality of its own as Joseph Stalin , where he overwhelmed Nazi war machine, that was way ahead of its time and winning ,so do China work on same line as per ideas of Mao Zadong or Chairman Mao.so we will see cheap mass production type matter like PL 15 near hypersonic AAM ,that will overwhelm sophisticated systems like Rafael as it was fired en mass on on target as it did do something that echos are there .So China is mass production, less complex , fast deploying military hardware,nothing else but even US can't take it head on due to huge numbers ,in few thousand aircrafts, a few thousand tanks , a few thousand missiles ect ect . So China need is another way to be subdued in military sphere.