China’s Unusual Reason for Refusing to Sell Fighter Jets to Iran: Fear of Technology Leakage+video

According to Rokna, in a surprising statement, Hossein Ghahari asserted that Beijing’s primary reason for withholding its fighter aircraft from Tehran stems from fears that Iran might deliver the jets to Western countries for reverse engineering. He claimed that Iran has, in the past, engaged in such actions.

Has China Provided Fighter Jets to North Korea? 

Ghahari’s remarks come amidst growing speculation, especially considering that China has not supplied these advanced aircraft even to North Korea — a country often regarded as an informal extension of Chinese influence. In stark contrast, China has provided the same military equipment to Pakistan, a nation known for its close ties with the United States and the United Kingdom, in an effort to counterbalance Indian power in the region.

Impact of China’s Military Espionage on Jet Production

It is worth noting that all Chinese fighter jets — including the well-known J-10 model — are reportedly the result of military espionage targeting the United States. This fact is likely a key factor behind China’s strict limitations on the export of its fighter aircraft to other countries.