China’s recent joint air force exercises with the UAE are raising concerns about potential information gathering on Western aircraft, particularly Taiwan’s French-built Mirage 2000. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported that the UAE and China conducted joint operations in Xinjiang, where similar exercises took place in 2023. The participation of UAE’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets in exercises with China has raised eyebrows, as the aircraft is widely used by Western and Taiwanese air forces.
The IISS suggests that China could be using these exercises to familiarize themselves with the Mirage 2000’s capabilities and potentially gather information on how to combat Taiwanese fighter jets. While joint military exercises with Western countries and China are not uncommon, the direct involvement of the PLAAF on Chinese territory with the UAE is notable.
The growing military ties between the UAE and China have caught the attention of the US, with concerns about a suspected Chinese military base in the Gulf state. Despite warnings from the Biden administration, construction at the site reportedly continued in 2022.