A report submitted to the United States Congress this week mentioned Pakistan’s “military success” over India during the four-day conflict between the two nations in May 2025. The assessment highlighted the crucial role of Chinese weaponry in the clash, framing the event as a test and promotion platform for Beijing’s defence capabilities.
The report, compiled by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission-which examines the national security implications of US-China trade-stated that the conflict “showcased Chinese weaponry.” It noted that China utilized the crisis to “test and promote its own defence capabilities” and opportunistically advertise the sophistication of its weapons systems.
The commission’s annual report drew global attention to China’s role, citing that “Pakistan’s military relied upon Chinese weaponry and reportedly leveraged Chinese intelligence.” New Delhi, in its claims, alleged that China provided “live inputs on Indian military positions throughout the crisis.” While Pakistan denied these claims, China neither confirmed nor denied its degree of involvement.
The document suggested that while characterizing the conflict as a “proxy war” might overstate China’s role as an instigator, Beijing used the clash to advance its expanding defence industry goals and its ongoing border tensions with India.
The May clash marked the first time that modern Chinese weapons systems were used in active combat, effectively serving as a real-world field experiment. These advanced systems reportedly included the HQ-9 air defence system, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and J-10 fighter aircraft.
As Pakistan’s largest defence supplier, China accounted for approximately 82 per cent of the country’s arms imports between 2019 and 2023. Following the May conflict, the report stated that China reportedly offered to sell Pakistan 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, KJ-500 aircraft, and ballistic missile defence systems in June. In the same month, Pakistan announced a 20% increase in its 2025–2026 defence budget, raising planned expenditures to $9 billion despite an overall budget decrease.
The conflict saw varying claims regarding air-to-air engagements. Islamabad initially claimed to have downed five Indian planes, later raising the tally to seven, and denied any losses of its own aircraft, stating it hit 26 Indian targets after three of its air bases were targeted. US President Donald Trump has also weighed in, recently claiming that eight planes were “essentially” shot down.
The Congressional report further alleged that in the weeks following the conflict, Chinese embassies “hailed the successes” of their systems in the clash, seeking to bolster weapons sales. It also cited allegations from French intelligence claiming China initiated a “disinformation campaign” to hinder sales of the French Rafale fighter jet in favour of its own J-35s. This campaign allegedly involved using “fake social media accounts to propagate AI and video game images of supposed ‘debris’” from planes destroyed by Chinese weaponry.
The four-day confrontation began after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi quickly linked to Pakistan without providing evidence. Islamabad strongly denied the accusation and called for a neutral investigation.
New Delhi subsequently launched air strikes into Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7, marking the beginning of the intense exchange. After both sides engaged in tit-for-tat strikes on air bases, American intervention led to a ceasefire on May 10.
The report also pointed to expanded Sino-Pakistani military cooperation in 2025, which it said “compound[s] its own security tensions with India.” Recent examples cited include the three-week Warrior-VIII counter-terrorism drills held in late 2024 and the Chinese Navy’s participation in Pakistan’s multinational AMAN drills in February 2025. Indian commentators viewed these joint exercises as a deterioration in relations with China and a “direct security threat” to India’s territorial positions.
