China has claimed that it played a mediating role in easing India-Pakistan tensions earlier this year, a statement that has been dismissed by people familiar with the matter in New Delhi as “bizarre” and inaccurate.
The claim was made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who listed the India-Pakistan situation among several global conflicts allegedly mediated by Beijing in 2025. Indian officials, however, have reiterated that China had no role in bringing the May military standoff to an end.
What China Said
Speaking at the “Symposium on the International Situation and China’s Foreign Relations” in Beijing, Wang Yi said China had helped mediate multiple regional and international disputes.
“Following the Chinese approach to settling hotspot issues, we mediated in northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear issue, the tensions between Pakistan and India, the issues between Palestine and Israel, and the recent conflict between Cambodia and Thailand,” Wang said.
Background: India-Pakistan Standoff in May
India and Pakistan were locked in a serious military confrontation in May following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam valley on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The situation de-escalated on May 10 after talks between senior military officials of both countries.
India Rejects Third-Party Mediation
While there has been no official statement from the Indian government on Wang Yi’s remarks, people aware of the developments said that China played no role in the ceasefire.
“The claim by the Chinese side is bizarre,” one official familiar with the matter told HT.
They added that the understanding to halt military action was reached exclusively through direct communication between India and Pakistan’s military leadership, consistent with India’s long-standing position that bilateral issues allow no third-party involvement.
China’s Role During the Conflict Under Scrutiny
China’s involvement during the May confrontation had already drawn attention after reports suggested that Beijing provided real-time intelligence and surveillance support to Pakistan.
Indian officials have previously noted that over 80% of Pakistan’s military hardware originates from China and alleged that Beijing used the conflict to demonstrate the effectiveness of its weapon systems.
Comparison with US Mediation Claims
Sources in New Delhi also compared China’s assertion with similar claims made earlier by US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly said Washington helped mediate a truce between India and Pakistan. India has categorically rejected those claims as well.
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