File photo of China's submarine

Pakistani Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain recently announced the deal to purchase 8 submarines from China. This makes the arms deal the biggest ever for China.

The minister did not reveal which type of submarines China would transfer to Pakistan. Neither did he announce the exact date of the submarines being put into production.

China has been gaining ground in the global weapon market. The submarines made in China have again entered into the global weapon market. Pakistan has finalized its long-negotiated submarine deal with China, with four to be built in China and four in Pakistan. 

Model of China's S-20 submarine

China now exports technology-intensive sophisticated weapons including submarine and air-defense missile systems while in the past it mainly exported low-cost weapons. This clearly shows it has made great advances in the arms industry. 

That China sold 8 submarines to Pakistan helps demonstrate its sophisticated weapons. After foreign customers really test Chinese weapons, it will help dispel their doubts about China’s weaponry. The submarine sale is aimed to illustrate Chinese sophisticated brands and lay a solid foundation for future weapons exports. 

This article was edited and translated from 《中國售巴潛艇最大價值不在錢 為中國武器樹標桿》, source: Huanqiu.com, author: Liu Kun