Why is BJP Criticizing ‘The Economist’ Over Chinese Weapons?

New Delhi, May 19 (NationPress) In a pointed critique, the BJP took aim at the British publication The Economist for publishing a misleading article that lauded the performance of Chinese military equipment utilized by Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor, without directly referring to Beijing or Islamabad. The BJP's National Information and Technology Department head, Amit Malviya, shared a screenshot of the article titled: ‘Chinese weapons gave Pakistan a new edge against India’ on X, stating, “It is quite apparent where The Economist derives its 'facts' or propaganda.”

In a robust social media statement, Malviya highlighted several instances of the subpar performance of Chinese air defense systems, air-to-air missiles, fighter jets, and drones.

The article from The Economist, published on May 15, suggested that due to the impressive performance of Chinese weaponry, “America and its allies are now scrambling for details.”

Malviya further remarked, “The conflict unveiled persistent issues in Chinese military exports, such as poor quality control, unreliable components, and insufficient after-sales support.”

He subtly pointed to the advantages of India-made weapons and defense systems, stating, “These shortcomings jeopardize China’s standing as a global arms supplier and reinforce worries expressed by other nations regarding defective Chinese equipment in the past.”

He indicated a sense of anxiety within the Chinese leadership following the failure of military supplies, mentioning, “China has summoned Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, to discuss the implications of Operation Sindoor and the shortcomings of Chinese military hardware.”

Malviya stated that the recent conflict, referred to as #OperationSindoor, showcased significant deficiencies in the Chinese-supplied military assets employed by Pakistan.

“With China constituting 82 percent of Pakistan’s defense imports, the conflict served as a practical examination of Beijing’s defense technology against a blend of Indian, Russian, and Western platforms. The outcomes have raised substantial concerns regarding the reliability and combat efficacy of Chinese weaponry,” noted Malviya.

The BJP’s National Information and Technology Department head also enumerated key failures of Chinese weaponry observed during the recent conflict:

• Air Defense Systems (HQ-9, HQ-16/LY-80): Unable to intercept Indian aircraft or missiles; susceptible to jamming and evasion.
• PL-15 Air-to-Air Missiles: Missed targets or malfunctioned mid-flight; Indian forces retrieved unexploded fragments.
• Fighter Jets (J-10C, JF-17): Failed to deter Indian airstrikes; no confirmed kills; poor performance against Indian Rafales and Su-30s.
• Chinese-origin drones: Lacked stealth and were easily countered by Indian air defense systems.
• CM-400AKG Missiles: Detected and neutralized due to lack of stealth and maneuverability; vulnerable to spoofing.
• Radar Systems: Chinese YLC-8E anti-stealth radar destroyed in a precision strike, undermining claims of its effectiveness.
• AR-1 Missiles & Wing Loong-II Drones: Majority were intercepted by Indian defenses; failed to inflict substantial damage.

The Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India had been orchestrated.

These actions followed the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen.

During the May 7-10 operation, Pakistani forces attempted to strike Indian civilians and military installations, prompting a strong and focused response from Indian forces that targeted airports and radar systems across the border.