NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — China claims it helped ease tensions between India and Pakistan during their May 7–10 military confrontation this year, a statement that New Delhi has firmly rejected. The remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have renewed debate over Beijing’s role in South Asia and its close ties with Pakistan, even as China speaks of improving relations with India.
Speaking Tuesday at a symposium in Beijing on “International Situation and China’s Foreign Relations,” Wang said China had “mediated” several global conflicts in 2025. He included tensions between India and Pakistan in that list. Wang described the year as one of rising wars and cross-border conflicts and said China followed an “objective and just stance” to promote lasting peace. Wang said China focused on both immediate problems and their root causes. He added that Beijing had also worked on issues in northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear file, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and a recent dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.
India has strongly denied any foreign mediation in the May conflict, known as Operation Sindoor. New Delhi has repeatedly said the situation was resolved through direct military talks with Pakistan.
At a May 13 briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs said the ceasefire understanding came from a phone call between the Directors General of Military Operations of both countries. The call took place on May 10 at 3:35 p.m. India also reiterated its long-standing position that there is no place for third-party involvement in India-Pakistan matters. Indian officials have maintained this stance consistently, even as other countries, including China, commented on the crisis.
China’s role during Operation Sindoor drew scrutiny in India. On May 7, the first day of India’s airstrikes, Beijing urged both sides to show restraint. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said China found India’s military action “regrettable.” China also said it opposed all forms of terrorism, an apparent reference to the Pahalgam terror attack that triggered the escalation. At the same time, Beijing avoided direct criticism of Pakistan.
China’s close defense ties with Pakistan became a major point of concern during the conflict. More than 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware comes from China, according to Indian assessments. Indian officials argued that Beijing provided strong military backing to Islamabad during the crisis.
India’s Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Rahul R. Singh, said China treated the conflict as a “live lab.” He accused Beijing of using Pakistan to test strategies against India. Singh referred to ancient Chinese military ideas, including the “36 stratagems,” and said China sought to hurt India by using a “borrowed knife.” China declined to directly respond to these claims and played down Singh’s remarks.
Despite the tensions, Wang spoke of positive momentum in China-India relations. He noted that Beijing invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held in Tianjin in August. Wang said the summit was a success. He added that China invited Indian leaders to visit during the year and said ties showed signs of improvement. Wang also spoke of stronger relations with North Korea and said China’s engagement with neighbors had entered a new stage of building a shared future.
Wang also addressed wider global issues. He said BRICS cooperation grew stronger in its expanded format and described the group as more prosperous with 20 members. He warned that global trade faced serious challenges due to tariff wars and rising protectionism.
In an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, Wang said unilateral actions disrupted the global economic order. He described China-U.S. relations as one of the world’s most important bilateral ties. Wang said China held firm on core interests while staying open to dialogue. He added that frequent contacts between President Xi Jinping and Trump helped steer relations through difficult times.
