Yesterday, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China and the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAE AF) commenced Exercise Falcon Shield 2024 in the Xinjiang region, located in northwest China. According to officially released information, over the coming days, aerial exercises are planned involving various aircraft participating in the activities, including UAE Mirage 2000 fighters and Chinese J-10C and J-16 combat aircraft.
Exercise Falcon Shield 2024 marks the second occasion where both countries engage in such combined air operations. It’s worth noting that the 2023 edition also took place in Xinjiang, which at the time was seen by analysts as a message directed towards the United States, as China seeks to increase its influence and presence among Middle Eastern and Gulf countries.
In recent years, China has fostered closer ties with several countries in the region, strategically positioning them as potential allies to enhance its presence in the Middle East. Regarding Falcon Shield, this military activity should not be viewed in isolation but rather as a deepening of military relations between China and the UAE, countering the alliances forming between the United States, South Korea, and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region.
While these exercises draw attention, the evolving relationship between China and the UAE has strained historic ties with the United States, particularly under the Biden administration. This divergence has intensified due to the U.S. government’s refusal in recent years to authorize the sale of fifth-generation F-35 fighters to equip the UAE Air Force, prompting the Gulf nation to reassess its equipment supply and military cooperation.
This shift is underscored by several military acquisitions by the UAE from China, including L-15 training aircraft, Chinese combat drones like the Wing Loong 1 and Wing Loong 2, and Blue Arrow 7 anti-tank missiles. Additionally, in 2023, the UAE finalized a contract to acquire Chinese-made AR3 multiple rocket launch systems (MRLS) from the defense company Norinco.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the UAE has been exploring the possibility of acquiring fifth-generation fighters from China. Although not officially confirmed, analysts speculate potential interest in incorporating the new FC-31, still in development, emphasizing potential exports to allied countries of the Asian Giant.
*Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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Any jets China has are mere copies of other countries. They’re cheaper to build because they have no Research and Development department.China is known as an imitator not an innovator. Their economy is in shambles, their real estate is a mess. They still put the military as their first priority and not they’re citizens.