From Bangladesh to Pakistan and Africa, China’s military hardware increasingly seen as unreliable and risky
Image via IANS
In the wake of a tragic aircraft crash in Bangladesh earlier this week, concerns have grown around the reliability and safety of Chinese-made defence equipment. The crash involved an F-7BGI fighter jet — a Chinese-built aircraft — that went down on a school campus in Dhaka, killing dozens, most of them children. The incident has reignited a global debate over the quality of Chinese defence hardware.
Old Designs, New Problems
The F-7BGI, manufactured by China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, is a modern version of the older J-7, which itself is based on the Soviet-era MiG-21. China stopped producing the F-7 in 2013, and Bangladesh received the last batch that same year. While the aircraft is still used for training and limited combat roles in some countries, it is now outdated by modern standards. The Chinese military phased out the entire J-7 fleet by 2023.
Since 1992, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has reported 27 aircraft crashes, with most involving Chinese-made jets. Out of 11 aircraft lost since 2005, seven were Chinese-made. Despite this, Bangladesh continues to rely heavily on Chinese defence supplies.
Over-Dependence on Chinese Arms
Bangladesh imports nearly 85% of its military equipment from China. This includes tanks, fighter jets, naval vessels, and small arms. Pakistan shows a similar pattern. Over the past five years, China has been responsible for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports. Pakistan has bought Chinese jets like the JF-17 and J-10C, tanks, submarines, drones, and air defence systems like HQ-9 and LY-80.
But this heavy dependence has raised serious concerns. During India’s "Operation Sindoor" following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, Indian forces reportedly managed to bypass or neutralize Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems. Missiles launched by India were able to penetrate targets, including Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, despite these defences.
A Pattern of Global Complaints
The problem is not limited to South Asia. In Nigeria, F-7Ni aircraft — the same model as the one used in Bangladesh — have been involved in multiple crashes, including a mid-air collision in 2018. Jordan’s air force was also unhappy with the performance of Chinese CH-4 drones and put them up for sale within three years of purchase.
African nations like Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco have also expressed frustration with unreliable Chinese military hardware, especially UAVs and maintenance support.
Cheap But Risky
China has managed to become the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, capturing 5.8% of the global market. But its growth comes at a cost. Beijing often sells cheaper, downgraded versions of its weapons to developing countries, sometimes backed with soft loans or credits. However, these products frequently suffer from low quality control, technical defects, and poor after-sales support.
Critics say China is using its defence exports not just for business but for strategic leverage, especially with countries like Pakistan, where Chinese platforms dominate military planning.
Concerns Over Espionage and Ethics
Apart from technical failures, China is also under global scrutiny for unethical practices. The U.S. Department of Defence has accused China of using espionage to gain access to advanced defence technologies. Additionally, China has a history of selling weapons to regimes with poor human rights records, showing little regard for the implications.
Final Thoughts
The rising number of failures, fatal crashes, and battlefield underperformance has cast serious doubts on the combat readiness of Chinese defence equipment. While China's low-cost weapons appeal to budget-conscious militaries, the hidden costs — from technical failures to strategic vulnerabilities — are becoming more evident.
For countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, continued reliance on Chinese military hardware could prove costly — both financially and in terms of national security. As more nations report issues with Chinese arms, Beijing’s reputation as a reliable defence supplier is taking a major hit on the global stage.
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