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The clash, in which Pakistan, armed mainly with mainland Chinese-supplied aircraft, sensors and missiles, reportedly brought down a number of Indian jets, offered a sobering preview of what a conflict between the island and the mainland might look like, defence analysts said.
Pakistan is said to have shot down five Indian jets – including three French-made Rafale fighters – using mainland Chinese-made J-10C aircraft and PL-15E long-range missiles.
The clash, confirmed by multiple Western defence officials, is one of the most high-profile demonstrations of the mainland’s networked approach to warfare executed through a close military partner.
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“Pakistan’s extensive use of Chinese weapons systems – including missiles, air defence equipment, command chains and fighter jets – enabled it to successfully down India’s latest 4.5-generation Rafale,” Taiwanese lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting, who sits on the legislature’s foreign and defence affairs committee, said on Saturday.
