On November 11, China's new generation of fighters, including the J-30 and Y-20, was exhibited at the 10th International Aviation Expo in Zhuhai, sending the message that China's armaments are ready to attack the international market.

China-made arms including fighters, tanks, precision-guided bombs and radar reflect the ability of China's military industry to offer complete plans and supply chains for the arms industry. China is developing a new calm and confidence towards arms exports. The fact that top-of-the-range fighters like the J-31 and the Y-20 showed up together with other land weapons indicates that China is ready to move up the market from a low-cost low-price supplier into medium and high level products. China is setting out to establish a favorable reputation and brand awareness for "Made in China" abroad.

However, stepping up a level in the international arms trade is a major challenge. Faced with stiff competition, "Made-in-China" is bound to encounter some obstacles in its attempt to win a share of the market. Getting rid of profit controls and technical blocks is the key to becomng stronger.

China's arms should present themselves boldly when entering the international market. A domestic arms manufacturing structure that is almost complete is already in place - it is high time that China turned to international markets. Using the Zhuhai event to penetrate foreign markets is a sensible strategy.

Although China has not reached the scale of other arms export giants like the US and Russia, some heavy battle weapons like the "Xiaolong" fighter, "Kaishan" antiaircraft missile, and advanced arms systems like anti-ship cruise missiles that have been introduced to the international market have earned a favorable response. A determined effort will bring China success in this market. 

The article is edited and translated from《中国军备外销该走“高大上路线”》, source: The Beijing News, author: Xie Yongliang.