China to produce Ballistic Missiles with Pakistan?

During his 16 March 2017 visit to China, Pakistan’s COAS was received not just by military leaders but by Zhang Gaoli, a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee member, who is regarded as the seventh ranked leader in China. Gen Bajwa also met Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission General Fan Changlong, General Fang Fenghui, chief of the Joint Staff Department, and Army Commander General Li Zuocheng.

Consolidating its already considerable relationship with Pakistan’s armed forces, the Chinese government instructed industry “to jointly produce ballistic, cruise and anti-aircraft missiles along with Pakistan”. Song Zhongping, a former officer of the PLA Second Artillery Corps (which has now been renamed as PLA Rocket Force), stated that joint production with Pakistan will not only cover missiles but also extend to other weapons. This includes the “mass production of FC-1 Xiaolong, a lightweight and multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the two countries”( known in Pakistan as the JF-17 Thunder). The report about joint missile production has come shortly after China criticised India’s development of ballistic missiles, questioning therecent test of Agni V “as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”