Will Pakistan’s new defence pact with Saudi Arabia give Chinese arms risk-free exposure?

AI Summary

Pakistan's new defense agreement with Saudi Arabia raises strategic concerns regarding the potential for Chinese arms to gain exposure in real combat scenarios without the accompanying risks typically involved. This shift may influence military dynamics in the region amid ongoing tensions related to Iran.

For most military powers, proving the success of one’s technology in real combat almost always requires undertaking the grave risks of war and human casualties. In the case of the People’s Liberation Army, Beijing continues to exercise great caution about joining any armed conflict, and the past few decades have brought astounding progress yet an extremely limited combat footprint for its weaponry. The Iran war could change that. As tensions around Iran persist, Pakistan, whose imported weapons...