China Used India-Pakistan Conflict to Test New Weapons, Says US Panel

China reportedly used the India-Pakistan conflict in May as an opportunity to test its modern weapons systems in real combat conditions, according to a new report by a bipartisan commission in the United States.

The report, released this week, says that Beijing took advantage of the four-day clash between India and Pakistan to “test and promote” its defence technology. The panel noted that China treated the conflict as a real-world laboratory to observe how its latest systems perform under pressure.

First Combat Use of China’s New Weapons

According to the commission, China deployed several of its advanced systems during the conflict. These included:

• HQ-9 air defence system

• PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles

• J-10 fighter jets

This was reportedly the first time these modern systems were used in active combat. The report says China used the moment to assess performance and to showcase the capabilities of its growing defence industry.

China Offered Advanced Jets to Pakistan After the Conflict

Soon after the India-Pakistan clash ended, China reportedly offered Pakistan a large package of military equipment. This offer included:

• 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets

• KJ-500 early-warning aircraft

• Ballistic missile defence systems

The commission says China used the conflict to highlight the strengths of its weapons and then pushed to expand arms sales to Pakistan.

Chinese Embassies Praised ‘Successes’ of Weapons

In the weeks following the conflict, Chinese embassies around the world reportedly praised how well these systems performed. The report says this was part of a broader effort to boost global interest in Chinese defence products.

However, the commission also clarified that calling the conflict a “proxy war” would be an exaggeration, as China was not the instigator of the fighting.

China Allegedly Tried to Discredit Rafale Jets

The report also claims that China ran a disinformation campaign after the conflict to damage the reputation of the French-made Rafale jet, which is used by India.

According to the findings:

• China allegedly used fake social media accounts to spread false photos and AI-generated images.

• These images showed supposed “debris” from Rafale jets destroyed by Chinese weapons.

• The goal was reportedly to block Rafale deals and promote China’s own J-35 fighters.

The report said Chinese officials even influenced Indonesia to stop a Rafale purchase that was already in progress.

China, however, strongly rejected the claims and said the report lacks credibility.

Background: What Triggered the India-Pakistan Clash?

The India-Pakistan conflict began after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people. India found evidence of cross-border involvement and launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan responded with missile and drone strikes, but India said it successfully intercepted the threats. Indian forces then struck key airfields inside Pakistan.

The hostilities lasted four days and ended with a ceasefire on May 10.