Eurasianet: China is trying to strengthen its function as a weapon supplier to Central Asia

China succeeded in displacing Russia as Central Asia's main trading partner. Beijing now seems determined to take over the regional arms market.

Until recently, China has not played a crucial function as arms supplier to Central Asian countries. For most of the post-Soviet era Russia dominated this regional arms market, especially in sales to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. However, arms exports from Russia have fallen sharply since the Russian army has been trapped in Ukraine, which has opened up opportunities for another countries, including Turkey, Belarus, France, Spain and Italy. China is entering the game too.

In 2024, Beijing reportedly delivered drones to Kazakhstan, and in February sold anti-aircraft systems to Uzbekistan. There are now reports that Tashkent is considering a large acquisition of Chinese fighters. The material published by defense-blog.com indicates that the agreement may include JF-17, which are jointly designed by China and Pakistan. Theirs.The designers praise JF-17 as “advanced, light, year-round, multitasking fighter aircraft... [holding] excellent air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities’. If the deal is finalized, it will be a large success for Beijing.

Uzbek officials reportedly considered buying French Rafale fighters. However, JF-17 are reportedly cheaper to keep than Rafale fighters and require little complicated pilot training. Information aboutThe sales of fighters by China just after the Central Asia-European Union summit may beanother proof that Central Asia has become China's economical yard. Between 2018 and 2023 China sold arms to any 40 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia, representing 5.8% of global arms exports. Only the United States, France and Russia had at that timeincreased global marketplace shares.

Source: Eurasianet

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