'Missile in question is exported piece...': China evades queries on Pakistan using its weapon against India

The Chinese military refrained from commenting on the effectiveness of Chinese-made weapons reportedly used by Pakistan in its recent conflict with India.

In a regular press briefing, senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Defence Ministry, downplayed reports that India had recovered an unexploded PL-15E missile — a radar-guided, beyond-visual-range missile considered among China’s most advanced.

“The missile in question is an exported product and has been showcased at several defence expos, both domestically and internationally,” Zhang stated during the Defence Ministry’s first press briefing following the military exchanges between India and Pakistan from May 7 to 10.

When asked about Indian claims that China had supported Pakistan with air defence and satellite technology during the conflict — and that Chinese weaponry underperformed — Zhang avoided direct responses. He instead remarked, “India and Pakistan are neighbours who cannot be moved apart,” sidestepping the specific allegations.

Given Pakistan’s extensive use of Chinese arms and the close strategic relationship between the two nations, Chinese state media has shown a strong interest in the India-Pakistan military standoff.

Following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, India launched precision air strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with attempted attacks on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10, to which India responded decisively.

According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has become Pakistan’s primary arms supplier, accounting for 81% of its military imports from 2020 to 2024. This includes cutting-edge fighter jets, radar systems, warships, submarines, and missiles. Notably, the two countries also co-produce the JF-17 fighter jet, a cornerstone of the Pakistan Air Force.