China to fund weapon building in Pakistan

China and Pakistan, with which India shares border conflicts, have entered into a military cooperation under which Pakistan would be authorised by China to produce ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and a multi-role combat aircraft for it.

The report has been shared by official Chinese media.

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Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was in China for talks with General Fang Fenghui, chief of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission of China.

Bajwa also met Chinese Executive Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, General Fan Changlong and Commander of the People's Liberation Army General Li Zhuocheng to discuss regional security, economy defence cooperation and other issues of mutual interest between China and Pakistan.

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Fang said that the strategic partnership has withstood several changes in the international community, terming it ‘all-weather’.

One of the weapons produced under this program is FC-1 Xiaolong, known as JF-17 Thunder in Pakistan. This is a lightweight and multi-role combat aircraft made by collaboration of both countries, and the production would be done at a mass level after the recent talks.

China's authorisation to Pakistan to produce ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles and main battle tanks in Pakistan is also on the agenda, said Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the Second Artillery Corps (now known as the PLA Rocket Force).

China and Pakistan also vowed to ensure the safety of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is an important part of the One Belt and One Road initiative started by China.

Reportedly, Pakistan has deployed more than 15,000 troops to protect the CPEC, while its navy has raised a special contingent for the protection of Gwadar Port.

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Pakistan needs military support because of frequent threats from Taliban and al-Qaeda, especially in the regions where China has invested heavily.

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Another threat that needs to be jointly battled is the East Turkestan Islamic Movement active in Xinjiang, the connecting point of the CPEC, which has been held responsible for several violent attacks in the past few years.

(Image source: TechJuice)