On Monday, China's People's Liberation Army dismissed reports its largest military cargo aircraft had carried weapons supplies to Pakistan and promised to take legal action against rumor peddlers.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAF) refuted allegations that its Xi’an Y-20 transport plane had transported arms to Pakistan.
In response to widespread claims circulating online that a Y-20 had carried “relief supplies to Pakistan,” the Air Force clarified in a statement that these reports were false, according to an article on the Chinese Ministry of Defence's official website on Monday.
To further clear up the rumors, the PLAF released several screenshots with images and words related to the baseless allegations, all carrying a red "rumour" stamp. The Air Force statement emphasized, "The internet is not beyond the law! Those who create and spread military-related rumors will be held legally responsible!"
The PLA denial, most significant in the context of the close military ties between China and Pakistan, came just two days after India and Pakistan had committed themselves to a mutual cessation of all firing and military activities. The announcement came in the wake of Pakistan's urgent request for resupply.
In a recent report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that China is now Pakistan's biggest arms supplier, providing 81% of the country's arms purchase between 2020 and 2024. The list of supplies includes advanced jet aircraft, radar equipment, warships, submarines, and missiles. China and Pakistan jointly produce the J-17 aircraft, which is a backbone of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
In light of the massive deployment of Chinese-supplied weapons by Pakistan and the close bilateral ties, Chinese media outlets had shown considerable interest in India-Pakistan military tensions, always parrot-like mimicking Pakistani claims, e.g., the reports of aircraft shot down.
India had started 'Operation Sindoor' on 7 May with the objective to destroy nine terror infrastructure facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a revenge for the Pahalgam terror attack. This was then followed by large-scale airstrikes on the airbases in Pakistan, thereby reducing Pakistan's retaliatory capacity. India's air defence systems effectively thwarted several attempts by Pakistan to breach the Indian border by drone and missile attacks.
Despite the extensive sorties by the Indian Air Force, including its radar facilities and airbases deep inside Pakistan, Chinese media was fixated on reporting Pakistan's aircraft shoot-down stories to a large degree in shock to many observers. The Indian Embassy in Beijing asked the state-controlled tabloid Global Times to verify news before posting it on social media.
On the diplomatic front, China stated that it would be willing to contribute positively to bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian described a ceasefire as being in the strategic and long-term interests of both countries, with regional peace and stability. He added, "This is also what the international community hopes to see. China welcomes and supports this recent development."
Lin emphasized that China expected India and Pakistan to maintain the ceasefire momentum, resolve differences through dialogue, and get back onto the path of political settlement. "China stands prepared to stay in touch with both India and Pakistan and play a constructive role towards the achievement of a sustainable and all-encompassing ceasefire, keeping the region stable and peaceful," he said.
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