Chinese J-10C fighter jet has left US and Taiwan worried due to…, Does Xi Jinping has an upper hand in war over Taiwan?

The recent military clashes between India and Pakistan have put more attention to Chinese-made weapons, especially the J-10C fighter jet. Pakistan, which uses this aircraft, claims it deployed the J-10C during its response to Indian airstrikes in what it called “Operation Sindoora.” Though these claims lack evidence, Pakistan has made several unverified statements about the Indian Air Force.

The J-10C is often viewed as China’s version of the American F-16, with many suggesting that China copied technology from the US to develop this aircraft. This raises questions about whether China might use the J-10C in a possible attack on Taiwan in the future.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Chinese weapons, including the J-10C, are not more advanced than those made by the US. The J-10C is not fully stealth like American jets such as the F-22 or F-35, but it does have features that help reduce its visibility on radar. Despite this, the promotion of the J-10C shows the Chinese Communist Party’s push to modernize the military, especially the air force. This is part of President Xi Jinping’s goal to achieve full military modernization by 2027.

China heavily promotes J-10C despite internal military scandals

The use of the J-10C fighter jet during India-Pakistan tensions highlights China’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military, even as it grapples with internal challenges. Despite widespread reports of high-level corruption within the Chinese armed forces, the promotion of the J-10C suggests that the modernization plan is moving forward. Several top Chinese military officials have been removed from their positions over corruption charges. President Xi Jinping has taken a firm stand against corruption, but some analysts fear this crackdown could weaken the effectiveness of China’s military structure.

US still dominates global air power

The United States remains the world’s leading air power, owning more military aircraft than the combined forces of Russia, China, India, South Korea, and Japan. Reports comparing global air forces consistently rank the US Air Force as the most powerful. However, much of America’s air fleet is aging, with many aircraft being decades old, including fighters, bombers, and refueling tankers.

Meanwhile, China’s PLA Air Force is growing rapidly, both in numbers and capability. Still, it is nowhere near matching the overall size and scale of the U.S. Air Force.

China races to catch up with US military power

The United States currently leads the world in advanced fighter jets like the F-22 and F-35, which are considered fifth-generation aircraft. But China is quickly narrowing that gap. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China is reportedly producing over 100 fifth-generation J-20 fighter jets every year, and has tripled the production of other aircraft like the J-10C and J-16.

This rapid growth is possible because of China’s centralized, government-driven military planning, which allows the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to scale up quickly without the constraints often seen in more decentralized systems like that of the U.S.

Rising threat over Taiwan

There is growing concern that China might attempt to invade Taiwan to assert full control. If that happens, Chinese-made weapons would face direct confrontation with American military technology. If Taiwan is unable to resist or if Chinese forces gain the upper hand, the US could be drawn into the conflict.

In such a scenario, Chinese fighter jets would go head-to-head with US aircraft, and the J-10C would likely be one of China’s main workhorses, given that it is the most widely deployed fighter in their arsenal.

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