Pakistan/ China : In a development that could spark fresh strategic discussions in South Asia, China has reportedly acknowledged for the first time that it provided technical support to Pakistan during India’s Operation Sindoor.
According to a report published by the South China Morning Post, the disclosure came during an interview aired on China Central Television, where an engineer associated with China’s defense aviation sector spoke openly about the assistance.
Chinese Engineer Reveals Technical Deployment
During the televised interview, Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, said his team had been stationed to provide technical support in Pakistan.
He explained that their primary responsibility was to ensure that combat aircraft and associated military systems remained fully operational and ready for active deployment.
Pakistan Reportedly Used Chinese-Made J-10CE Fighter Jets
Zhang also confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force operates the J-10CE fighter jets, which were reportedly in use during Operation Sindoor.The J-10CE is the export version of China’s J-10C multirole combat aircraft and is manufactured by a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
Indian Military Had Earlier Raised Concerns
India had earlier claimed that China was supporting Pakistan during the military operation. In July 2025, Rahul Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, publicly stated that China had provided significant assistance to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
At the time, Chinese foreign ministry officials and military representatives had dismissed or downplayed those allegations.
Engineer Describes Conditions at Support Base
Speaking about his experience, Zhang said the operational environment was extremely demanding. He described hearing constant fighter jet movement and air raid sirens throughout the deployment.
He added that temperatures at the support base touched nearly 50 degrees Celsius even in the early hours of May, calling the conditions physically exhausting and mentally intense.
Operation Sindoor Began After Pahalgam Terror Attack
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack.
During the operation, India had accused China of backing Pakistan militarily. The latest remarks from the Chinese engineer are now being seen as the first public indication from within China’s state-linked defense establishment that technical assistance may indeed have been provided.