Since 2024, there have been on and off rumors claiming that Pakistan is on the verge of acquiring approximately 40 Chinese-made fifth-generation J-35 fighter jets. To date, however, no contract has been signed, nor has a single fighter been delivered. Recently, these rumors have resurfaced once again.
As things stand, neither Pakistan nor its longstanding rival, India, possesses any fifth-generation fighters. The acquisition of 40 J-35s by Pakistan would therefore be a game-changer, fundamentally altering the balance of power on the Indian subcontinent.
That said, Beijing is unlikely to approve such a sale in the near-term. It remains wary of upsetting the regional balance of power, particularly as it must prioritize meeting its domestic military needs – and Pakistan’s defense budget already stretched thin.
Unwilling to Upset the Balance of Power in South Asia
Over the past decade, China has provided Pakistan with extensive economic and military support – in part to establish it as a military counterweight to India. For Beijing, a Pakistan capable of holding its own forces India to divert resources away from the disputed China-India border, while simultaneously securing the section of the Belt and Road Initiative that traverses Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
