Beijing, China: The US administration’s plan to provide India with F-35 stealth fighters has drawn criticism from China and Pakistan, with concerns over regional security and geopolitical tensions.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, denounced the move, stating that the Asia-Pacific region should remain an example of peace and development, not a battleground for geopolitical rivalries.
During a regular press briefing on Friday, Guo warned against forming “exclusive groupings” and engaging in “bloc politics and confrontation.” He emphasized, “No one should make China an issue in the relations and cooperation between countries, or seek to instigate bloc politics and confrontation.”
Guo also addressed the US-India COMPACT initiative, which aims to strengthen military cooperation, stating that international partnerships should “not target any third party or harm others’ interests.”
Pakistan Expresses Concerns Over Regional Military Balance
Pakistan also raised concerns, claiming that the US decision would disrupt regional stability. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated that the transfer of advanced military technology to India could “undermine strategic stability” and hinder efforts toward lasting peace in South Asia.
A spokesperson from MOFA said, “Pakistan is deeply concerned over the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India. Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability.” He urged international partners to take a “holistic and objective view” of South Asian security issues and avoid “one-sided positions that deviate from ground realities.”
India Yet to Begin Formal F-35 Acquisition Process
The announcement about F-35 fighter jets was made by US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after bilateral talks. Trump stated, “Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.”
However, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that India had not yet started the formal process for acquiring F-35s. He explained that military acquisitions involve a structured process, including requests for proposals and evaluations, which has not yet begun for the F-35 purchase.
US-India Deepen Defense Ties with ASIA and COMPACT Initiatives
In addition to discussions on the F-35s, India and the US launched the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA) to enhance defense industry collaboration and boost the development of next-generation autonomous military technologies, particularly in underwater domain awareness.
The two nations also agreed to expand military cooperation across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace, with a focus on joint training, exercises, and operations using advanced technologies.
One of the key upcoming events under this initiative is the “Tiger Triumph” tri-service military exercise, which will be conducted in India on a larger scale and complexity compared to previous editions.
Both nations also discussed improving logistics, intelligence sharing, and force mobility in the Indo-Pacific region as part of the US-India COMPACT for the 21st Century initiative, which aims to accelerate military partnerships, commerce, and technology exchanges.