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A new report submitted to the US Congress has claimed that Pakistan achieved notable “military success” over India during the intense four-day conflict in May this year, highlighting China’s growing role in South Asian security dynamics.
The report—prepared by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which evaluates how US-China ties affect American national security—states that the brief but high-stakes clash became a showcase for Chinese military technology. It notes that Beijing used the confrontation to test, promote, and demonstrate the performance of its advanced weapons in a real combat environment.
Pakistan’s Claims and US Commentary
In the aftermath of the fighting, Pakistan initially reported shooting down five Indian aircraft in air-to-air engagements, later raising the figure to seven. Islamabad also stated that it suffered no aircraft losses of its own and that its forces successfully struck 26 Indian military positions after India targeted three Pakistani airbases.
US President Donald Trump repeatedly commented on the conflict, most recently stating that “essentially eight” Indian aircraft were downed—though neither India nor independent observers confirmed this figure.
China’s Expanding Strategic Role
The Congressional report emphasizes that China openly benefited from the conflict in multiple ways. According to the commission, Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese weapons and reportedly received Chinese intelligence support throughout the crisis. While India accused Beijing of providing real-time updates on Indian military deployments, Pakistan dismissed the claims, and China neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
The report argues that the conflict came at a time of expanding China-Pakistan defence ties, adding strain to already tense China-India relations. Between 2019 and 2023, China accounted for roughly 82 percent of Pakistan’s arms imports, making it Islamabad’s largest defence supplier.
Combat Debut for Chinese Systems
For Beijing, the May clash marked the first combat use of several of its modern weapons systems, including the HQ-9 air defence system, PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, and J-10 fighter jets. According to the report, the conflict effectively served as a real-world testing ground for these systems—an opportunity China has been seeking as it attempts to strengthen its defence industry and increase its global weapons sales.
In June, shortly after the ceasefire, China reportedly offered to sell Pakistan 40 of its J-35 fifth-generation fighters, KJ-500 airborne early-warning aircraft, and advanced ballistic-missile defence systems. That same month, Pakistan announced a 20 percent increase in its 2025–2026 defence budget, raising its planned military spending to $9 billion despite broader fiscal constraints.
Military Drills and Cooperation
The report also recalls major joint drills held before the conflict. In November and December 2024, China and Pakistan conducted the three-week Warrior-VIII counterterrorism exercise, and in February 2025 China’s navy took part in Pakistan’s multinational AMAN maritime drills. These exercises, the commission said, reflect deepening defence cooperation that many Indian analysts view as a direct threat to their country’s security and territorial interests.
China’s Global Messaging and Alleged Disinformation
Following the conflict, Chinese embassies worldwide reportedly promoted the performance of Chinese systems used by Pakistan, seeking to boost international arms sales. The report also references French intelligence allegations accusing China of running a disinformation campaign designed to undermine sales of French Rafale fighter jets in favor of its own J-35s. According to these allegations, China used fake online accounts and AI-generated imagery—including video-game-based visuals—to portray supposed wreckage of Indian aircraft destroyed by Chinese weapons.
Origins of the Conflict
The clash was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Kashmir—an incident New Delhi blamed on Pakistan without presenting evidence. Islamabad strongly rejected the accusation and called for an independent investigation. Despite this, India launched airstrikes on targets in Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7, setting off a rapid cycle of retaliatory attacks, including strikes on several airbases on both sides.
It ultimately took American diplomatic intervention on May 10 to secure a ceasefire, ending the brief but highly consequential confrontation.
