A recent report has exposed major reliability and quality issues plaguing Chinese military hardware, seriously denting its reputation in global defense markets. Frequent malfunctions, sensor failures, radar defects, and engine problems in Chinese export systems such as Pakistan’s F-22P frigates, JF-17 fighter jets, and the SkyShield laser defense have been widely documented. These persistent issues, coupled with poor spare parts availability and weak after-sales support, have slowed China’s arms export growth despite it being the fourth-largest global arms supplier. In real combat scenarios, like during India’s Operation Sindoor in 2025, Chinese-origin systems deployed by Pakistan underperformed or malfunctioned, exposing vulnerabilities and reinforcing doubts about their combat effectiveness. This has opened a strategic window for India, whose indigenously developed weapons—boosted by initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat—have demonstrated superior reliability and battlefield performance. India is increasingly seen as a dependable defense partner as it advances its own modern military technology and export capabilities. Meanwhile, chronic corruption, uneven industrial bases in China, and a rush to showcase capabilities have further compromised the quality of Chinese defense products, limiting Beijing’s ambition to emerge as a credible global military power.