New Delhi: Amid mounting India-Pakistan tensions, China on Monday responded to reports claiming it had despatched its largest military cargo plane carrying arms to Pakistan during last week’s offensive against India.
Calling it a “rumour”, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force sounded a warning that it could take legal action against those who fuelled this buzz. The Chinese defence ministry, on its official website, posted a statement. According to the statement, the Air Force said that no such mission had taken place. It dismissed speculation spreading across various online platforms that its Y-20 aircraft was transporting relief supplies to Islamabad.
The statement added: “The internet is not beyond the law! Those who produce and spread military-related rumours will be held legally responsible!”
Earlier, China had rejected claims by Pakistan that it used Chinese fighter jets against India during Operation Sindoor.
‘Not familiar with the matter’
Last Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry had said that it was “not familiar with the matter”, when asked if Chinese jets were used by Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with missiles.
The reaction came from Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian while speaking at a press briefing in Beijing. China’s statement was seen as an embarrassment for Pakistan. Islamabad had claimed that Chinese fighter jets were used during its response to Indian military strikes. Pakistan had also said that China had been entirely briefed about its actions.
China is an important ally of Pakistan and its biggest arms supplier, accounting for almost 82% of Pakistan’s weapons imports between 2019 and 2023, as per data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
After Operation Sindoor, Beijing had stressed upon its anti-terrorism stance saying, “China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.”
