China Becoming A Major Arms Supplier To The Middle East

A Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle is presented during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, on 1 October 2019 (AFP)  

SCMP: China said to be negotiating arms deals with Saudi Arabia and Egypt 

* The Middle Eastern countries seek to diversify weapons supply amid Ukraine war and tensions with Washington, according to intelligence service 

* Riyadh eyes air defence systems and drones as part of possible yuan-based deal while Cairo plans to buy J-10C fighter jets, report says 

China is reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt for major arms deals as the countries seek to diversify their weapons supplies to become less reliant on the United States and Russia. 

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is currently in talks with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), a state-owned defence company, to buy weapons ranging from reconnaissance drones to air defence systems, according to Tactical Report, a Beirut-based intelligence service focused on the Middle East. 

Weapons involved in the potential deal include the Sky Saker FX80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the CR500 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, the Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 - two types of loitering munitions, better known as suicide drones - and the HQ-17AE short-range air defence (SHORAD) system, the service reported last week.  

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Update: China said to be negotiating yuan-based arms deals with Saudi Arabia and Egypt (Pakistan Defense)  

WNU Editor: China is doing what the US did for decades. We will buy your oil, but you must buy our weapons to balance our trade.