The recent India-Pakistan standoff has emerged as a significant concern for the international community. Given that the region is a volatile nuclear flashpoint, global powers were eager to de-escalate the confrontation before it escalated into a threat to global security. It was evident that the party mediating the truce between these two nuclear-armed adversaries would assert considerable diplomatic influence. The United States seized this opportunity by employing allies like Saudi Arabia to reinforce the perception that its hegemonic influence remains intact on the world stage.
Conversely, this brief conflict also served to magnify China’s rising stature in global geopolitics, particularly among astute observers of the aerial conflict. It is widely acknowledged that Pakistan deployed Chinese-manufactured JF-17 and J-10C fighter jets, and several reports suggest the use of China’s most advanced missile, the PL-15—although Pakistani authorities have not officially confirmed this. Some sources allege that China provided Pakistan with an upgraded version of the PL-15, not yet exported elsewhere. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafales, which—until now—had never been destroyed in combat. Even if not all five, the confirmed downing of at least one has been verified. A senior French intelligence officer confirmed to CNN that one Rafale jet was indeed shot down.
These developments have led many to conclude that China has now emerged as a credible competitor to American and Israeli supremacy in aerospace technology. China is actively positioning itself to rival the U.S. F-35 Lightning II through the development of the Shenyang J-35, also referred to as the Gyrfalcon. Though not a direct counterpart to the F-35, the J-10 represents another stride in China’s pursuit of fifth-generation stealth aircraft capability.
Moreover, this Indo-Pak conflict has unveiled another critical dimension of modern warfare: cyber conflict. Reports suggest that Pakistan, leveraging advanced Chinese cyber capabilities, successfully disrupted over 2,500 Indian digital assets, including those in the energy, telecommunications, defense, and governmental sectors—even compromising the official website of the BJP.
Through this strategic showcase of military and cyber prowess via Pakistan, China has positioned itself as a formidable challenger to long-standing U.S. hegemony. This could prompt a significant shift in global arms markets, with nations potentially turning to Chinese alternatives following the underperformance of the Rafales in this conflict.
In conclusion, it is evident that the recent Indo-Pak clash has heralded China’s ascent as an emerging hegemon in the evolving global power hierarchy. That’s why according to some US ended this fight seeing setback faced by its “little boy” AKA India infront of Chinese technology used by Pakistan.
Author: Syed Sohaib Kirmani
He is a media graduate from Beaconhouse National University with a strong background in conventional and digital media, public relations, and content creation. As a seasoned writer, his articles have attracted over millions of views, showcasing his command over both Urdu and English. With hands-on experience in journalism, including roles at Express News and Far Media, he brings a unique blend of academic insight and field expertise to his writing.
