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China has responded cautiously to allegations made by a senior Indian military official that Beijing supported Pakistan during the recently concluded Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation conducted by the Indian Army. In a measured statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that its defence cooperation with Pakistan is not aimed at any third country, and reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability.
Responding to media questions on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “China and Pakistan are close neighbours with a long-standing traditional friendship. Our cooperation in the defence and security domain does not target any third party.”
It comes after Indian Army Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, speaking at a security conference last week, said that China not only supplied Pakistan with 81 per cent of its weaponry used in the operation but also provided real-time intelligence and used Pakistan as a “live lab” to engage India indirectly. He accused China of waging a proxy conflict, calling Pakistan a “hired knife.”
While Mao Ning stated that she was not fully aware of the details of the Indian Army’s claims, she stressed that China is closely monitoring recent tensions between India and Pakistan.
“India and Pakistan are both important neighbours for China,” she said, adding, “We hope they can resolve disputes through dialogue. China is willing to play a constructive role in this process.”
Jaishankar to Visit China for SCO Meeting
Amid this tense backdrop, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to visit China next week for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers, which will take place in Tianjin on July 14 and 15. Sources familiar with the development said the visit may also include bilateral discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing ahead of the multilateral event.
It will be Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh severely damaged relations between the two countries.
The Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 marked the deadliest encounter between Indian and Chinese troops in decades, prompting a prolonged disengagement process that only concluded in late 2024.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected to travel to India later this month to hold another round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the boundary issue with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The two had previously met in Beijing in December and again during the SCO security summit held in May.
Signs of Thaw Amid Strategic Competition
Despite lingering tensions, India and China have taken several steps in recent months to mend diplomatic ties. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended since the pandemic and border standoff, was resumed last month. Both sides have also restarted key diplomatic channels, including the SR mechanism and high-level defence and foreign ministry talks.
“India-China relations are going through an important phase,” Mao Ning said during her briefing. “We are willing to work with India to put bilateral relations on a stable and positive track.”
Observers say Jaishankar’s visit could serve as a crucial opportunity to reset relations and ease the geopolitical friction that continues to cast a shadow over the region.
Team BharatShakti
