Beijing: China on Tuesday sought to defend its sale of submarines and warships to Pakistan, contending that even India was seeking military equipment from US and Russia.
Acknowledging that the proposal may invite concerns from India, a top Chinese defence official has said acquiring arms was normal for an independent country like Pakistan.
Besides submarines, Pakistan is seeking bigger warships from China in addition to the F22P frigates already acquired by it, the China Daily said in a report on Tuesday.
"The initiative may invite concerns from its neighbouring countries. But the doubts are unnecessary," Zhai Dequan, deputy director of China Arms Control and Disarmament Association said.
Zhai argued that India also has large projects with the US and Russia and that Pakistan's proposal in submarine cooperation is likely aimed at its sea border protection.
"India's aircraft carrier has already cost it billions of US dollars," he was quoted as saying by the paper.
The chief of Pakistan's naval staff Noman Bashir, who is on a visit to China, has said he looks forward to see more cooperation in the submarine field with Beijing.
He said he had talked to Chinese officials over the issue of buying more JF-17 fighter planes and bigger ships than the F22P frigates, currently ordered by Pakistan.
Since 2005 Pakistan has ordered eight F22P frigates from China. "The F22P frigate is about 3,000 tons, and now we are talking about 4,000-ton ships," Bashir said.
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