China admits on-site military support to Pakistan during war with India last year

China has for the first time acknowledged that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge Pahalgam victims last year.

According to a South China Morning Post report, during the four-day conflict, a Chinese-made fighter aircraft reportedly shot down at least one French-built Indian fighter jet.

On Thursday, China’s state broadcaster China Central Television aired an interview with Zhang Heng — an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter jets and unmanned aerial systems — who confirmed that he had provided technical assistance to Pakistan during the four-day conflict in May last year, offering the first public admission of direct Chinese support during the hostilities, added the report.

Pakistan’s air force operates Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets, produced by a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China. One of these aircraft is reported to have shot down at least one French-made Rafale jet during the conflict with India — marking the first recorded instance of a J-10CE downing an enemy aircraft, as well as the first known loss of a Rafale in combat, according to SCMP.

Zhang described the conditions faced by Chinese technical teams deployed during the operation.

“At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens. By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically,” he explained.

He added that the team was driven by the “desire to do an even better job with on-site support” and to ensure the equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”.

“That wasn’t just a recognition of the J-10CE; it was also a testament to the deep bond we formed through working side by side, day in and day out,” said Zhang.

Another engineer, Xu Da, who also worked on-site in Pakistan, compared the fighter jet to a “child.”

He said, “We nurtured it, cared for it, and finally handed it over to the user. And now, it was facing a major test.”

“As for the outstanding results the J-10CE achieved, we weren’t very surprised, and it didn’t feel sudden at all.

“In fact, it felt inevitable. The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would,” he added.

The remarks mark the first public confirmation that Chinese personnel were directly involved in supporting Pakistan during last year’s India-Pakistan clashes.

The J-10CE is the export version of the J-10C 4.5-generation fighter jet and is regarded as one of China’s most advanced combat aircraft, equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and compatible with modern air-to-air missiles.

Pakistan is the only known foreign operator of the J-10C, having ordered 36 jets and 250 PL-15 missiles in 2020.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China accounted for nearly 80% of Pakistan’s arms imports between 2021 and 2025.

The Pakistan Air Force also operates the JF-17, a jointly developed fighter with China, as a core part of its combat fleet.

Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation was described as a calibrated tri-services mission aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan.

According to official accounts, the operation targeted nine major terror camps identified through multi-agency intelligence inputs. Authorities said the mission was carried out with precision and restraint to minimise collateral damage and avoid civilian casualties.

Following the operation, Pakistan reportedly launched retaliatory drone and UCAV attacks targeting Indian airbases and logistics infrastructure. Indian authorities said the attacks were neutralised through a multilayered air defence system supported by the Integrated Command and Control Strategy (ICCS), which enabled real-time threat assessment and interception.

Officials said the operation demonstrated operational synergy among the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy, with support from multiple government agencies and departments.

With inputs from agencies