China is reshaping the global arms trade—emerging as a major weapons supplier while shedding its historic dependence on foreign imports. In recent years, Chinese-made drones, missiles, and fighter jets have been exported to 44 countries, from Pakistan and Myanmar to Nigeria and Algeria. A new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) confirms this transformation, as China ramps up domestic production and moves closer to defense self-sufficiency. Last month, Pakistan claimed its Chinese-built jets had downed six Indian aircraft—including three French-made Rafales—in a brief but intense border skirmish. The clash was seen as a rare test of Chinese weapons against Western hardware. Newsweek has reached out to China’s defense ministry for comment. China’s evolution from arms importer to exporter is not just an industrial feat—it is a tool of statecraft. Military sales build alliances, open diplomatic channels, and reshape power balances. Beijing’s strategy offers lower-cost weapons with fewer strings than Western suppliers, appealing to governments wary of U.S. oversight. According to SIPRI’s March, China’s arms imports fell by 64 percent between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five-year period. This dramatic shift reflects breakthroughs in local engine production, combat aircraft, and helicopters, ending decades of dependence on Russian and European technologies.

Full report : China is emerging as a global leader in supply of drones, jets and missiles around the world.