Summary:
Pakistan is increasingly turning to China to supply it with arms. Historically supplied by the United States, Pakistan's increasing instability has cooled relations and the US has been backing down from supplying arms. China, who is percieved as having less strings attached, has been perfectingly willing to supply the Pakistan's armed forces. Pakistan's unease with India's increasing power has led to a renewed program of modernization and expansion. A recently signed deal will supply Pakistan with 250 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets (pictured) and 6 submarines, and construction just began on 2 fast attack missile ships for the Pakistani Navy. Pakistan and China have experienced smooth relations with the Chinese forgiving loans and giving low interest rates. Despite this, China still remains cold do to a cultural emphasis on building trust with business partners and Pakistan is at risk of becoming overly dependent on the Chinese for their weapons. Regardless, the shift signals the increasing preminance of China as an arms supplier.
Significance:
Pakistan's turning to China to supply it's military needs shows China's new position as a much less stringent weapon supplier. It sets up the possibility of dependent nations being far more supportive of China and could give them more confidence to go against US wishes and could potenially lead to proxy wars with US and China supplying opposing sides. The shift of Pakistan to China might be the beginning of a new, low-level arms race, with both countries competing for the hearts and, more importantly, the check books of the worlds smaller nations.
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