Security Review Commission presents report to Congress; Says Beijing systems helped counter Indian attacks
Pakistan’s J-10C. Photo: Archive
ISLAMABAD:
A report submitted to the US Congress by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted Pakistan’s “military success” during the four-day conflict with India in May 2025, attributing the outcome to the deployment of advanced Chinese weaponry.
The commission, charged with evaluating the national security implications of trade and economic ties between the United States and China, delivered its findings to Congress on Tuesday. According to the document, “Pakistan’s military success over India in their four-day standoff showcased Chinese weaponry,” noting that Beijing’s latest air defense systems and fighter jets were used in combat for the first time.
The clash was triggered after an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which New Delhi attributed to Pakistan without providing any evidence. Islamabad rejected the allegation and called for an independent investigation.
In response, India launched airstrikes against the Pakistani province of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the early hours of May 7, leading to four days of hostilities that concluded with US mediation on May 10.
The US report noted that the confrontation marked the first active combat use of China’s modern weapons systems, including the HQ-9 air defense system, PL-15 air-to-air missiles and J-10 fighter jets operated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
China reportedly used the conflict to test and promote its defense capabilities and subsequently, in June 2025, offered to sell Pakistan 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, KJ-500 aircraft and ballistic missile defense systems.
Pakistan initially shot down five Indian aircraft, later raising the count to seven, although it claimed there were no losses on its side and reported that 26 Indian targets were hit after airstrikes on three bases. US President Donald Trump commented on the clash, stating that eight Indian planes were “basically” shot down.
The report also highlighted China’s growing defense cooperation with Pakistan, noting that the country supplied about 82% of Pakistan’s arms imports between 2019 and 2023. It cited joint exercises such as the ‘Warrior-VIII’ counter-terrorism exercises in late 2024 and Pakistan’s participation in the AMAN naval exercises in February 2025 as evidence of expanding military collaboration.
New Delhi perceived these exercises as direct security threats. “Indian commentators viewed the exercises as losses in its relationship with China and as direct threats to the security of its territorial positions,” the report said.
Additionally, the commission noted allegations that China took advantage of the conflict to improve its arms sales, including reports that it promoted the effectiveness of its systems over French Rafales and allegedly carried out disinformation campaigns using AI-generated images to boost the credibility of its J-35 fighter jets.
The report emphasized that while the conflict could be described as a “proxy war,” China used the engagement to publicize the sophistication of its weapons and promote the goals of its defense industry, especially amid ongoing border tensions with India. Pakistan also increased its defense budget by 20% in June 2025, raising planned expenditures to $9 billion despite an overall decline in the national budget.
The four-day standoff represents a rare instance of China’s deployment of modern weaponry in actual combat, underscoring both Islamabad’s dependence on Beijing and China’s strategic interest in showcasing its latest defense technology on the international stage.
(WITH INPUTS FROM THE NEWS DESK)
