China supplied 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in the past 5 years, SIPRI says

Shipments include more advanced systems, as China expands the range of weapons it can offer to strategic partners

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China’s defence exports to Pakistan in the past five years have included four Type 054A frigates. Photo: Weibo/China State Shipbuilding Corporation

Published: 12:00pm, 16 Mar 2025Updated: 7:48pm, 16 Mar 2025

Chinese arms made up 81 per cent of Pakistan’s weapons imports in the past five years, as Islamabad buys more advanced systems from its long-standing Asian defence partner, according to data from Swedish think tank SIPRI.

That was up 7 percentage points from the previous five-year period to 2019, when 74 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports came from China, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute database shows.

The boost comes amid a huge push in China to improve self-reliance in its defence industry – from aircraft carriers to sixth-generation fighter jets – which has also seen it expand the range of weapons it can offer to its strategic partners.

China’s growing security capabilities and deepening partnership with Pakistan have also seen Beijing boost its influence in South Asia, in rivalry with the United States.

China’s global share of defence exports was 5.9 per cent in the five years to 2024. Those arms predominantly went to Pakistan, making up 63 per cent of China’s total arms exports with a total value of US$5.28 billion over that period.

China’s next biggest buyer was Serbia at 6.8 per cent, followed by Thailand at 4.6 per cent.