China’s growing military strength is no longer a background development, it’s a strategic force reshaping the global order. From stealth fighters to AI-powered drones, Beijing is now exporting advanced systems, asserting its presence in contested regions, and offering military alternatives to countries sidelined by the West.
This surge in capability is now beginning to translate into real-world influence, as seen at this year’s Zhuhai Airshow, where Iranian officials were photographed in the cockpit of a Chinese J-10 fighter. The image may well signal a new chapter in China-Iran defence cooperation, one that could significantly alter the balance of power in the Middle East.
From Tactical Deficit to Global Player
The roots of China’s military modernisation stretch back to the humiliations of the 1990s. During the Gulf War and the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was outclassed by Western forces. When the US responded to Chinese missile tests with two full carrier strike groups, China’s ageing Soviet-built fleet stood little chance, and struggled even to detect American submarines in its own waters.
These shortcomings triggered sweeping reforms under then-President Jiang Zemin, including annual double-digit increases in defence spending and a wholesale restructuring of China’s military doctrine. The results of that effort are now clear.
Technological Leap Forward
China’s transformation into a serious military power has been powered by its broader technological advances. Its AI-driven platforms, hypersonic weapons, and stealth aircraft have moved far beyond the imitative designs of the past.
In June 2025, a Chinese J-20 stealth fighter reportedly flew through the heavily-monitored Tsushima Strait without being detected by Japanese, South Korean, or US radar systems. The next-generation J-36, expected to enter service soon, incorporates AI integration and drone swarm capability, effectively serving as a flying battlefield network. Experts describe it as a game-changer for air combat across the Asia-Pacific region.
Such innovations reflect not only military ambition but a desire to lead in emerging technologies that shape warfare in the 21st century.
China Enters the Export Market
Alongside technical achievements, China is becoming an increasingly prominent arms exporter. Its weapons are now appearing in active conflicts, most notably in the Indo-Pakistani clash in June, where Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10C fighters to down several Indian jets, including the French-built Rafale.
The successful use of Chinese systems in real combat has drawn attention across the developing world. Egypt and Nigeria have expressed interest in the J-10, while the UAE and other Middle Eastern nations have already purchased Chinese drones and fighter jets.
China’s defence exports are particularly attractive to countries excluded from Western military cooperation, either due to sanctions or diplomatic tensions. Iran is one such example. Should it acquire Chinese weapons systems, analysts suggest it could be better positioned to challenge Israeli air dominance in the region.
Strategic Pressure in the Pacific
China is also expanding its military footprint in the Pacific. Recent unannounced naval exercises off the coast of Australia disrupted flights across the Tasman Sea and brought Chinese warships alarmingly close to sensitive Australian installations, including the RAAF’s Amberley base, which houses US B-2 stealth bombers.
Such manoeuvres demonstrate Beijing’s growing confidence and its willingness to confront Western allies in contested areas. They also underscore how China’s military advancements now allow it to operate with greater boldness and reach than ever before.
A New Power Dynamic
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Chinese military systems were largely dismissed as outdated or derivative. Today, they are seen as competitive, sometimes even superior. Beijing’s investment in AI, drone warfare, stealth, and cyber capabilities has rapidly closed the gap with the West and, in some areas, moved ahead.
In a world where global conflicts are increasingly fought with drones, data, and long-range precision strikes, China is positioning itself as a key supplier and influencer. As older European and Russian systems show their age in Ukraine and elsewhere, Chinese technology is rising to meet demand.
China’s increased military might now give it a new weapon: influence. Whether through battlefield innovation or defence exports, Beijing is no longer content to play a secondary role. Instead, it is actively challenging the world order, and gaining ground.
