China’s determined efforts to acquire American military technology are becoming a pivotal topic in discussions about the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Experts and retired high-ranking military officials are voicing their concerns.
Retired General Charles Wald, a former U.S. Air Force officer who also served as the deputy commander of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), highlighted that previous sales to countries like the United Arab Emirates and Turkey were halted due to fears of Chinese technology breaches.
“We informed Turkey they wouldn’t receive the F-35. The same was conveyed to the UAE, as there were apprehensions about possible technology transfers to China,” Wald explained. “The primary concern with Saudi Arabia acquiring the F-35 is not that they’d hand it directly to the Chinese, but rather that China could exploit it through intelligence operations. However, I’m not as alarmed by this possibility as others might be,” Wald commented during a recent JINSA briefing.
During President Donald Trump’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on November 18, 2025, these concerns were likely part of the discussions. (Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Gordon Chang, an expert on China, pointed out that Beijing has already shown its capability to infiltrate U.S. defense systems and may be eyeing the F-35 once more. “We must assume China has already acquired much of the technology. They’ve previously stolen the entire plane and could very well be repeating that feat,” Chang stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Chang emphasized that the U.S. must weigh the risks against the potential strategic advantages of bolstering its alliance with Riyadh. “Strengthening our relationship with the crown prince is crucial, especially if it facilitates his endorsement of an Abraham Accord. Offering them modified F-35s could be a viable solution,” he suggested.
He added that other U.S. partners may present even greater concerns. “I’m much more worried about South Korea having the plane and turning over the plans to China.”
Chinese intelligence services have been implicated for years in efforts to harvest American military and aerospace technology, including stealth designs, propulsion systems, and advanced avionics. U.S. officials have previously linked Chinese cyber actors to thefts targeting premier American defense programs, including components resembling those found in fifth-generation fighters.
An F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, prepares to be refueled by a 459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, April 28, 2017. (U.S. Air Force)
Against that backdrop, the United States is weighing whether to approve Saudi Arabia’s request for the F-35 as part of a broader negotiation that includes defense assurances and potential diplomatic progress with Israel.
(Ret.) Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the United States uses foreign military sales monitoring protocols to reduce risk, but the protections are not perfect. “One of the things that we do through foreign military sales is end-use case monitoring protocol,” Ashley said. “We watch very closely how these kinds of advanced systems are used … but they’re not absolute.”
In this April 12, 2018, file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks after reviewing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in the South China Sea. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP, File)
Despite the China threat, the retired commanders said they do not believe a Saudi F-35 acquisition would undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge.
Wald emphasized that Israeli pilots, planners, and engineers maintain a superior level of training and innovation. “There’s a big difference between the Israeli actual pilot capability than the other countries out there,” Wald said. He added that Israel has integrated its own upgrades into the aircraft. “The Israelis modified their own F-35 a little bit … they created or developed [additional capabilities] just prior to the attack on Iran.”
An Israeli Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft flies over during an air show in Tel Aviv on April 26, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
Wald noted that even if approved, Riyadh would not receive the aircraft for years. “At the very least, there’s probably about a five-year window here before that would happen if they got the F-35,” he said.
Ashley and Wald said that in the long term, additional F-35s in the region could enhance shared situational awareness and strengthen collective defenses against Iran. Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox said the fighter’s data-sharing architecture means more aircraft in allied hands improves overall performance. “The one thing about F-35 is it talks to every other F-35,” Fox said. “Having more F-35s in the region actually increases the capability of the coalition.”
