Beijing: China on Thursday, May 8, distanced itself from the ongoing military confrontation between India and Pakistan, denying any involvement of its fighter jets in Pakistan’s response to India’s Operation Sindoor. The clarification came amid speculation over the use of JF-17 fighter jets co-developed by China and Pakistan during retaliatory strikes by Islamabad.
China's Response To the Claims
Speaking at a regular media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the government was “not familiar with the matter” when asked about the involvement of Chinese-origin fighter jets. His comments were reported by Reuters, following Indian missile strikes that targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.
Reports had suggested that JF-17 Thunders were deployed by Pakistan to counter India’s precision strikes, but Beijing has neither confirmed nor denied the claim. The JF-17 aircraft has long been a symbol of military collaboration between the two nations.
China reiterated its stance of neutrality, urging both India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint.” “We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability… and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” Lin Jian added.
India Slams Chinese Media for 'Disinformation'
Tensions were further inflamed after China’s state-run Global Times published unverified claims that three Indian fighter jets were shot down during the operation. India firmly rejected the report as “baseless,” accusing the publication of irresponsible journalism.
In a sharp rebuttal, the Indian Embassy in Beijing posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts… When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.”
Have a look at their post here:
India has maintained that Operation Sindoor was a precise and successful mission targeting terror infrastructure, with no Indian aircraft lost in the process.
The operation, launched in the early hours of May 7, was in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
