India, June 1 -- Speculations about the involvement of Iranian forces in using a Chinese missile to shoot down an American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter plane have attracted attention from the world community, posing queries regarding the contribution of imported military equipment in the conflict in the volatile region. Such allegations, which have come out through news stories citing unverified sources, have generated concerns about how this might affect the already strained relationship between the US and China.

What Triggered the Controversy?

The controversy arose when there was a suggestion that an American F-15E aircraft that had crashed in southwestern Iran last month had been hit by a shoulder-launched missile, otherwise referred t...