All I can say is those articles from the 18th of this month are saying "
tested" or "
deployed for testing/or similar for the sake of accuracy. PJC", I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth here. All the equipment sites I use don't show any country users at this point. And by the way they all are quoting from military spokes person or newspapers.
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/...light_tank.htm
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/vt5.htm
https://www.armyrecognition.com/chin..._11711164.html
And...
https://scout.com/military/warrior/A...Tank-107470050
From the above and others already submitted...
In June 2017, the
Chinese periodical Guancha reported (Like SPUTNIK is for the Russian Military.) that the Xinqingtan (literally “New Light Tank”), a mountain-going tank formerly known by the equally generic appellation ZTQ-105,
had entered trials in Tibetan Plateau. The newspaper characterized these as “a show of force designed to deter the Indian military,” while a
military spokesman stated on June 29 they were “
aimed to test the tank’s performance and are not targeted at any country.”
I don't see how you can read into any of those refs. or equipment sites (Check the
Data Blocks) that they are operational at this time. Not unusual to move equipment around different parts of the country when terrain and weather conditions vary so much. Some countries even will go so far,
but very rarely, to test equipment in other countries usually for op eval after being down selected by a potential buyer.
It took years of testing for the India's ARJUN tank before it became operational. That tank like the Chinese one visited every part of the country for months at a time to determine where it's potential could be best used. Lord knows I posted enough on that tank and process. It might be worth a little time and research to visit that topic as India was MUCH MORE forth coming on that tank than
China will ever be on theirs.
I stand by my original post until someone "can show me the money", well it's that time-have a good day!
Regards,
Pat
