In the wake of the recent India-Pakistan military standoff following Operation Sindoor, China's Defence Ministry has tactfully avoided commenting on the performance of Chinese-made weaponry reportedly used by Pakistan. During a press briefing, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, the spokesperson for the Chinese Defence Ministry, offered vague responses to journalists’ questions about whether Chinese weapons performed poorly during the skirmishes.

When asked directly about India’s claim of recovering an unexploded PL-15E missile, Zhang responded, “The missile in question is an exported product and has been showcased at several defence expos.” This non-committal response further reinforces China’s diplomatic tightrope walking in matters involving its two major South Asian neighbours — India and Pakistan.

The Missile in Question: PL-15E

India reportedly recovered an unexploded PL-15E missile, described as a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and one of China’s most advanced missile systems. The PL-15E is part of the same family of air-to-air weapons that the Chinese Air Force integrates with its fifth-generation fighters such as the J-20 Mighty Dragon. The presence of such a high-grade missile on Pakistani soil raises serious concerns about Chinese technological proliferation in the region.

Though Zhang referred to it simply as an “exported product”, the fact that it was found unexploded casts doubt over its reliability, something India was quick to point out. Yet, China has chosen to dodge any comment on the missile’s effectiveness, possibly to avoid damaging its international arms market reputation or its strategic relationship with Pakistan.

India’s Accusations and China’s Diplomatic Play

India has alleged that Pakistan launched aerial attacks on Indian military facilities from May 8 to 10, following India’s airstrikes during Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. Indian officials also claimed that Pakistan was supported by China with air defence systems and satellite intelligence during these attacks. However, Zhang evaded questions regarding China's direct support, merely stating that “India and Pakistan are neighbours who cannot be moved apart.”

Such statements reflect China’s intention to maintain neutrality on the surface while continuing its strategic alignment with Pakistan behind the scenes. This has become a recurring theme in trilateral relations, particularly when tensions flare along the India-Pakistan or India-China borders.

Operation Sindoor and Aftermath

The military conflict was triggered by a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. India blamed The Resistance Front (TRF) — a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — for the massacre. In response, India initiated Operation Sindoor, a multi-pronged counterstrike campaign on terrorist hideouts across the border.

Pakistan’s retaliation involved airspace violations and missile deployment, some of which, according to Indian military sources, featured Chinese-origin weapon systems. These included not just the PL-15E missile but also air defence technology, reportedly supplied or upgraded by China.

China-Pakistan Military Ties: A Deepening Nexus

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China accounted for 81% of Pakistan’s military imports between 2020 and 2024, making it Islamabad’s primary arms supplier. This includes:

• JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, co-developed and manufactured by China and Pakistan

• Radar and surveillance systems

• Frigates and submarines

• Guided missile systems and drones

The JF-17 itself has seen significant upgrades through Chinese support, including the integration of advanced avionics and radar-guided missiles. It’s widely used by the Pakistan Air Force and has played a central role in Pakistan’s air strategy during conflicts with India.

However, doubts about the reliability and precision of Chinese-made military equipment have surfaced, especially after India’s discovery of unexploded or malfunctioning missiles during recent clashes.

China’s Position in Global Arms Trade and its Strategic Dilemma

China's reaction — or lack thereof — is telling. On the one hand, Beijing wants to retain its dominant status in the international arms trade, particularly in Asia and Africa. On the other hand, any acknowledgment of failure could hurt its market credibility.

Moreover, with increasing scrutiny over Chinese arms exports and their use in conflict zones, China is choosing to deflect and delay any definitive response. While not directly denying the allegations, Zhang’s vague answers point to a well-coordinated policy of strategic ambiguity.

Implications for India

For India, this development presents both a strategic opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, China’s evasion confirms New Delhi’s claims about Chinese involvement, thereby strengthening its case on international platforms. On the other, India must now prepare for further advancements in Pakistan’s military capabilities, as both Islamabad and Beijing seem determined to deepen their defence collaboration.

India may also push for stronger countermeasures, including:

• Boosting its indigenous missile and defence technology programs

• Increasing intelligence cooperation with Western allies

• Enhancing satellite and cyber capabilities to monitor cross-border activities

Conclusion

The recent India-Pakistan military skirmishes have once again highlighted the strategic triangle between India, Pakistan, and China. While India has called out the presence and possible malfunctioning of Chinese-made arms, China has opted for silence, hoping to keep its lucrative arms deals intact and its diplomatic relations with both nations balanced.

This ongoing geopolitical game signals that the battlefields of South Asia are not just shaped by bullets and bombs but also by defence diplomacy, export strategies, and strategic ambiguity. The discovery of the PL-15E missile may have been a small technical victory for India, but it also exposes the deep-rooted nexus between Pakistan and China, a partnership that New Delhi can ill afford to ignore.

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