"The J-11B is roughly analogous in its capabilities to India's Su-30MKI - modernised derivatives of the Soviet Su-27 air superiority fighter. The J-11B provides a capability which Pakistan lacks, and when deployed to Pakistani skies largely nullifies India's primary advantage in the air. China's deployment of the JH-7 strike fighter also gives a much needed boost to Pakistan's otherwise sorely lacking penetrative strike capabilities - at speeds and ranges and with high payloads which light jets such as the JF-17 cannot match. What the Chinese deployment signifies is that the country seeks parity and stability in South Asia - and ultimately for neither party to be capable of waging an aggressive war on the other. The appearance of the J-11B on India's Western borders sends a strong signal that should China provide Pakistan with even minimal air - either directly or through the transfer of high end arms - India would not enjoy such a one sided advantage in an air war with Pakistan as it otherwise would against its fleet of light F-16 and JF-17 fighters. By deploying the J-11B rather than more advanced platforms such as the J-20 however, a fifth generation platform currently unmatched by anything in the Indian inventory, or the elite J-16 strike fighter which considerably surpasses the JH-7 in its performance China has indicated that it does not seek an arms race or destabilisation in South Asia - only strategic balance between the two regional powers. The J-11B and JH-7 thus symbolise an attempt to match but not to suppress Indian capabilities - as this is the most effective means to prevent war. Ultimately maintaining regional peace remains the Chinese strategic priority, not only because it already faces far more serious security threats on its eastern borders from the Western Bloc but also because the future of its One Belt Road initiative depends on such peace and stability. "