Beijing: The Chinese military on Thursday declined to issue an official statement regarding the alleged use of China-made weapons by Pakistan in the recent conflict with India.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang stated that India had reportedly recovered an unexploded PL-15E missile, a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range missile considered one of the most advanced of its kind produced by China.
Zhang clarified, “The missile you mentioned is an export product and has been displayed at defence exhibitions both domestically and internationally many times.” He made the remarks during the first media briefing since the May 7–10 military standoff between India and Pakistan.
India and Pakistan cannot be moved apart
Responding to Indian claims that China supported Pakistan with air defence and satellite assistance during the conflict, and that Chinese weapons systems underperformed, Zhang emphasised the geographic and strategic proximity of the two nations, stating that India and Pakistan are neighbouring countries that “cannot be moved apart”.
Given China’s reported support for Pakistan during the conflict, Chinese media displayed significant interest in the military engagement between the two rival nations.
Remnants of Chinese weapon systems were reportedly recovered on May 8, 9, and 10, following Pakistan’s use of short-range ballistic missiles in strikes on Indian targets.
The conflict followed the April 22 attack in the Baisaran meadow of Kashmir’s Pahalgam region in which 26 people were killed. In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor” nearly two weeks later, beginning “precision strikes” on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 7.
According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has become the largest arms supplier to Pakistan, accounting for **81%** of Pakistan’s arms imports from 2020 to 2024.
These arms reportedly include jet fighters, radars, naval ships, submarines, and missile systems. Both countries also jointly manufacture the JF-17 aircraft, considered the centrepiece of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
