China's arms exports have been facing a significant decline in recent years due to concerns over poor quality and inconsistent performance. According to a report by the Directus, China's weaponry exports have dropped by nearly a quarter in the last decade. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) further confirms a 7.8 percent fall in China's arms shipments between 2016 and 2020, resulting in a decrease in its global market share from 5.6 percent to 5.2 percent. One of the main reasons behind this decline is the underwhelming performance of Chinese weapons.

China has attracted customers with cut-rate pricing and financing, but the hidden costs become apparent when the gear malfunctions. Cindy Zheng, a researcher at RAND Corporation, warns that a lack of technological compatibility with Chinese military equipment can prove particularly expensive for buyer countries. China supplies weapons to over 53 nations, primarily Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and various African and Middle Eastern countries. However, concerns about the quality and performance of Chinese military gear have been highlighted by experts. Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, points out that China-made weapons not only lag technologically but also lack battlefield testing.

Instances of Chinese armament failures have been reported by buyer countries. Myanmar, for example, experienced low accuracy with the radar on the Chinese jets it purchased, leading to the majority of the jets being grounded due to technical issues. Nigeria faced maintenance problems with Chengdu F-7 fighters and had to send seven out of nine back to China. China's all-weather ally, Pakistan, also encountered technical issues with Chinese-made navy warships, including engine degradation, faulty sensors, and the missile system's inability to lock on targets. The absence of combat testing for most Chinese hardware is a major concern for buyer countries, as highlighted by Collin Koh, a maritime security analyst based in Singapore.

Furthermore, the integration of Chinese systems with non-Chinese systems becomes complicated due to political tensions with China. Importer countries often find that China's certification standards are lower compared to the West, where NATO countries endorse the certification of technologies based on shared standards of excellence. In conclusion, China's arms exports have suffered due to poor quality and performance issues. The decline in demand for Chinese weaponry reflects the hidden costs and risks associated with malfunctioning gear.

Buyer countries, especially those acquiring Chinese military equipment for the first time, are realizing the inferiority and unproven nature of these weapons on the battlefield. The absence of combat testing and lower certification standards compared to the West contribute to concerns and tensions surrounding the integration of Chinese systems. China's arms industry needs to address these issues to regain trust and maintain its market share in the global arms trade.