China Pakistan Naval Ties: China has handed over a second new submarine to Pakistan, equipped with modern weapons and sensors, as part of a deal to strengthen Pakistan’s navy. This aims to support Pakistan’s growing presence in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, which is considered India’s backyard.
The submarine, called the Hangor-class, is part of a larger agreement between China and Pakistan. Under this deal, Pakistan will receive eight such submarines for around $5 billion. The second submarine was recently launched in Wuhan, China’s Hubei Province, according to official Chinese media reports.
This delivery is in addition to four modern naval frigates that China has already supplied to Pakistan in recent years. These efforts are part of China’s plan to boost Pakistan’s naval power. At the same time, China is expanding its own presence in the Arabian Sea, where it is developing the Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan region, and in the Indian Ocean.
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A Chinese expert told the state-run Global Times that the new submarine has strong combat capabilities and will become a key asset for the Pakistan Navy.
Under the agreement, Pakistan will get eight Hangor-class submarines from China. Four of these submarines will be built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed in Karachi, Pakistan, under a technology transfer program, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement, reported Money Control. The submarines will be equipped with advanced weapons and sensors, allowing them to target enemies from long distances.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times, “Hangor-class submarines have strong underwater combat capabilities and are equipped with an air-independent propulsion system. This gives the submarine strong stealth capabilities, maneuverability, and endurance.”
He added, “The submarine’s firepower includes torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and mine-laying capabilities, along with advanced underwater detection systems.”
According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has supplied 81% of Pakistan’s advanced military systems over the past five years. This makes Pakistan the biggest buyer of Chinese arms.
The report also stated that Pakistan’s military purchases accounted for 63% of China’s total arms exports, with a total value of $5.28 billion in the last five years.
From 2020 to 2024, Pakistan bought more advanced and diverse systems from China, such as long-range reconnaissance drones and Type 054A guided-missile frigates, the SIPRI report said.
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Some of Pakistan’s major purchases in the past five years include its first spy ship, the Rizwan, more than 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE 4.5-generation fighter jets, according to the SIPRI database.
China delivered the first batch of multirole J-10CE fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force in 2022. These jets joined the JF-17 fighters, which are jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan.
The JF-17, a fourth-generation fighter jet, was developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. The Block III version of the JF-17, which features advanced radar systems, was added to the Pakistan Air Force in 2023.
Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former instructor in the Chinese military, told the South China Morning Post that China might also export its fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35 stealth multirole fighter, “if Pakistan requests it.”
Can Pakistan Repay China?
It seems unlikely. Last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote to China requesting an extension on Pakistan’s loan repayments. China has lent billions to Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
According to First Post, Safiya Aftab, an Islamabad-based economist, told DW, “These loans were given for infrastructure, which in theory is supposed to start generating returns. The main issue is Pakistan’s poor absorption capacity. The government was not able to progress on projects according to schedule.”
Azeem Khalid, an expert on Chinese investment in Pakistan, added, “The loans are challenging to repay due to exorbitantly high interest rates, which exceed the government’s payment capacity. The more relaxations and extensions available, the better it is for Pakistan. China, aware of Pakistan’s financial struggles, often provides breathing space but occasionally leverages this debt for its interests.”
Kaiser Bengali, an economist, warned, “The huge debt pile is crushing the economy. This is getting more complex. For how long will China roll over these debts? They have their own bottom lines and don’t want to set a precedent of delaying and renegotiating projects, as it will affect their interests.”
A September article in ORF highlighted growing concerns about Pakistan being trapped in China’s “debt-trap.” The situation remains critical as Pakistan struggles to balance its finances while managing its massive debt obligations.
