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China confirms on-site technical support to Pakistan during May 2025 four-day India-Pakistan conflict
China, through CCTV, confirmed it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the May 2025 four-day conflict with India. The confirmation came via an interview with AVIC engineer Zhang Heng, aired on May 7, 2026, and reported on May 8, 2026.
Why It Matters
This reveals a deeper military-technical collaboration between China and Pakistan and could influence regional security perceptions in South Asia.
Timeline
10 Events
May 11, 2025: Ceasefire ends four-day India-Pakistan war
May 11, 2025
After four days of fighting, a ceasefire was agreed to end the conflict between India and Pakistan.
May 7, 2025: Chinese on-site technical support deployed during the four-day war
May 7, 2025
Engineers from AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute were deployed on-site in Pakistan to support operations during the four-day conflict. AVIC engineers Zhang Heng and Xu Da described on-site conditions and the use of a Chinese-made J-10CE by Pakistan; reports also referenced claims that a J-10CE downed a Rafale.
May 7, 2025: India conducts precision strikes across terror infrastructure
May 7, 2025
India carried out precision strikes across terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 attack, triggering a four-day war.
May 2025: Wang Yi describes China as mediator in the conflict
May 2025
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi claimed Beijing acted as a mediator in the Pakistan-India conflict, describing a balanced approach and citing mediation in other regional issues.
May 2025: Rafale downing report during the conflict
May 2025
Reports claimed that a Chinese-origin fighter jet operated by Pakistan downed at least one French-made Rafale aircraft during the conflict.
April 22, 2025: Terror attack in Kashmir triggers conflict
April 22, 2025
A terror attack in the Kashmir region near Pahalgam killed 26 people, including tourists and a pony operator. The incident was linked to cross-border terror networks housed by Pakistan.
2020: Pakistan orders Chengdu J-10CE jets and PL-15 missiles
2020
Pakistan ordered 36 Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets and 250 PL-15 missiles from AVIC, establishing a long-term supplier relationship for Chinese military aircraft.
May 8, 2026 PTI report notes China’s confirmation and CCTV interview
May 8, 2026
A report cited in Beijing stated that China had confirmed providing on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict, and noted that CCTV had aired the interview with Zhang Heng.
CCTV airs interview with Zhang Heng confirming on-site support
May 7, 2026
China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an AVIC engineer, in which he stated that he provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the May 2025 four-day conflict.
China provides on-site technical support to Pakistan during May 2025 four-day conflict
May 2025
Zhang Heng, an engineer at AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, said he provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India in May 2025. He described the support base environment, noting fighter jets taking off, air-raid sirens, and temperatures near 50 C, and said the team aimed to ensure their equipment could perform at full combat potential.