China has confirmed for the first time that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during last year’s conflict with India, a disclosure likely to intensify scrutiny of Beijing’s military role in South Asia.
According to reports citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and the South China Morning Post, Chinese engineers were deployed to assist Pakistan’s air force during the May 2025 fighting, known in India as Operation Sindoor. The support reportedly involved technical assistance connected to Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, which Islamabad used during the brief but intense confrontation with India.
The admission is significant because Beijing had previously avoided openly confirming direct operational support during the conflict. Chinese officials had publicly called for restraint between India and Pakistan, while Pakistani and regional reports highlighted the role of Chinese-origin aircraft, missiles and air-defence systems in the fighting.
The J-10C, paired with China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile, was widely reported to have played a major role in Pakistan’s air operations. Pakistan claimed it downed several Indian aircraft during the conflict, including advanced fighter jets, though India did not confirm all of those losses. The engagement was viewed by analysts as one of the first major combat tests of China’s modern air warfare systems against Western and Indian platforms.
The disclosure gives new weight to Indian concerns that Pakistan’s military capabilities are increasingly backed not only by Chinese weapons, but also by Chinese technical expertise. Analysts say this could deepen New Delhi’s perception of a two-front security challenge involving both Pakistan and China.
For Beijing, the reported support underscores the depth of its defence partnership with Islamabad, one of China’s closest strategic allies. Pakistan has become a major buyer of Chinese military hardware, including fighter aircraft, missiles, drones and air-defence systems.
The confirmation may also have wider implications for global arms markets. After the 2025 conflict, the combat performance of Chinese systems became a major talking point among defence analysts, while China was accused by a U.S. commission of using the episode to promote its weapons and discredit rival systems such as France’s Rafale. China denied those allegations.
The development is likely to fuel diplomatic tension with India, which has already faced strained relations with China over border disputes, regional influence and Beijing’s close military ties with Pakistan.
