China's Role In Operation Sindoor

 

China's role in Operation Sindoor, the Indian military operation launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, has been a subject of significant discussion but remains complex and layered. The operation involved precision strikes by India targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Below is an analysis of China's role based on available information, addressing whether it was actively involved:

China's Role in Operation Sindoor

1. Diplomatic Stance and Public Statements:
   • China expressed regret over India's military strikes, describing them as "regrettable" and urging both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to prioritize peace and stability. The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that India and Pakistan are neighbors and called for de-escalation to avoid further complicating the situation.
   • Chinese state media, such as Xinhua and Global Times, framed the conflict in a way that often supported Pakistan's narrative, with some reports alleging civilian casualties from Indian strikes and downplaying the terrorist infrastructure targeted. For instance, Xinhua claimed 26 people were killed in "civilian settlements," a narrative that contrasted with India's assertion of targeting terror camps.
   • China's diplomatic response included a call for an "impartial investigation" into the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed support for Pakistan's "legitimate security concerns," signaling its continued strategic alignment with Pakistan.
2. Military and Technical Support to Pakistan:
   • Reports indicate that China provided Pakistan with significant military and technical support during the conflict, though the extent of active involvement during Operation Sindoor itself is debated. According to a Bloomberg report citing an Indian defense research group, China assisted Pakistan by reorganizing its radar and air defense systems and adjusting satellite coverage over India to enhance Pakistan's ability to detect Indian military movements.
   • Pakistan deployed Chinese-supplied military hardware, including JF-17 fighter jets, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, HQ-9 and HQ-16 air defense systems, and Wing Loong-II drones armed with AR-1 missiles. However, these systems underperformed significantly, with Indian forces bypassing or neutralizing them effectively, particularly with BrahMos missiles.
   • The poor performance of Chinese-supplied systems, such as the HQ-9 failing to intercept Indian missiles and the YLC-8E anti-stealth radar being destroyed, was highlighted as a strategic embarrassment for China, raising questions about the reliability of its defense exports.
3. Allegations of Direct Involvement:
   • There is no conclusive evidence that China was directly involved in the conflict in a military capacity, such as deploying its own forces or assets. China's military dismissed rumors that it sent Y-20 transport aircraft with arms to Pakistan during the standoff, labeling such claims as "rumors" and warning against spreading misinformation.
   • Analysts, including retired Lt. Gen. Vinayak Patankar, suggested that China is unlikely to engage directly in an India-Pakistan conflict due to economic and strategic risks, preferring to use Pakistan as a proxy. China’s support is seen as strategic, focusing on bolstering Pakistan’s capabilities to counter India without direct intervention.
   • Some unverified claims on X speculated about deeper Chinese involvement, with one post humorously suggesting China supplied "faulty" equipment to Pakistan, though such claims lack substantiation and should be treated as inconclusive.
4. Geopolitical and Strategic Context:
   • China’s long-standing "all-weather" alliance with Pakistan shapes its role. Beijing has historically provided Pakistan with over 80% of its arms imports, including missiles, fighter jets, and drones, and has invested heavily in infrastructure projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
   • China’s response to Operation Sindoor reflects a balancing act: supporting Pakistan while avoiding direct confrontation with India, a major regional power. Chinese commentators expressed concerns about the conflict escalating into a nuclear crisis, urging international mediation to complicate India’s diplomatic position.
   • China’s strategic interests in Pakistan, including control over parts of PoK (e.g., Gilgit-Baltistan) and its investments in CPEC, heighten its stake in the region’s stability. However, its actions appear calculated to maintain influence without risking a broader conflict with India, especially given the economic and military costs of direct involvement.
5. Counterterrorism Narrative vs. Actions:
   • China’s public stance against terrorism is at odds with its support for Pakistan, which India accuses of sponsoring terrorism. For example, China has blocked UN Security Council proscriptions of Pakistan-based terrorists and diluted resolutions on the Pahalgam attack, highlighting a contradiction between its counterterrorism rhetoric and actions.
   • This duality was noted as casting a shadow over China’s role as a leader in the Global South and a potential peace broker, as it prioritized its alliance with Pakistan over impartiality.

Was China Actively Involved?

China’s involvement in Operation Sindoor was primarily indirect, centered on providing military and technical support to Pakistan before and during the conflict. While China supplied critical defense systems and satellite support, there is no definitive evidence of active military participation, such as deploying troops or directly managing operations. Its role was largely strategic and diplomatic, aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s capabilities while avoiding direct entanglement. The underperformance of Chinese-supplied systems during the operation has been a significant setback for Beijing’s reputation as an arms exporter, suggesting that its involvement, while substantial, was not decisive in the conflict’s outcome.

Conclusion

China played a supportive role for Pakistan through pre-existing military supplies, technical assistance, and diplomatic backing, but it stopped short of active military involvement in Operation Sindoor. Its actions reflect a strategic calculus to maintain influence in South Asia while avoiding escalation with India. The operation exposed vulnerabilities in Chinese military technology, which may have broader implications for China’s arms export market and regional influence.