After Trump, China Claims Role in Easing India-Pakistan Tensions
Beijing’s assertion comes months after India rejected third-party mediation following the May military standoff with Pakistan.
China, Dec 31 : China has claimed that it played a role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan following their brief but intense military confrontation earlier this year, adding a new layer to an already sensitive diplomatic episode.
Speaking at a symposium on China’s foreign policy on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing had acted as a mediator in several international disputes, including between India and Pakistan. His remarks were later shared by the Chinese foreign ministry on social media.
Wang said China had pursued what he described as an “objective and just” approach to conflict resolution, with an emphasis on long-term stability rather than short-term outcomes. Alongside the India-Pakistan standoff, he cited China’s involvement in efforts related to northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.
The claim comes months after India and Pakistan were locked in a sharp military escalation in May, triggered by a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam valley on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, carrying out strikes on what it described as terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi has consistently rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation, maintaining that the situation was defused through direct communication between the two militaries.
According to Indian officials, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian counterpart after sustaining significant losses, leading both sides to agree to halt firing and military action across land, air and sea from May 10.
China’s assertion has drawn particular attention given its close strategic and defence ties with Pakistan. Beijing is Islamabad’s largest supplier of military equipment, underscoring its vested interests in the region.
The issue had surfaced earlier as well. In November, a US congressional advisory body accused China of running a disinformation campaign following Operation Sindoor. The report alleged that fake social media accounts circulated AI-generated images of supposed aircraft wreckage to cast doubt on French-made Rafale fighter jets while promoting China’s own J-35 aircraft.
During the conflict, China had publicly urged restraint. On May 7, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it regretted India’s military action and expressed concern over the evolving situation, calling on all sides to exercise calm.
