ISLAMABAD: A newly released report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission has described Pakistan’s performance in the May 2025 four-day aerial conflict with India as a “military success,” attributing the outcome primarily to the first-ever combat deployment of advanced Chinese weaponry.
Submitted to the US Congress on Tuesday, the document states that Pakistan’s downing of up to seven Indian aircraft — with Islamabad claiming zero losses — showcased the battlefield effectiveness of Beijing’s HQ-9 air-defence systems, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and J-10C fighters operated by the Pakistan Air Force. The clash, triggered by Indian air strikes on Punjab and Azad Jammu & Kashmir on May 7 following a terrorist attack in IIOJK, ended with US mediation on May 10.
The commission noted that China seized the opportunity to demonstrate its arms superiority over Western systems, including French Rafale jets, and subsequently offered Pakistan 40 fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighters, KJ-500 AWACS, and ballistic missile defence systems in June 2025. The report also accused Beijing of running AI-generated disinformation campaigns to exaggerate the performance of its platforms.
Highlighting deepening Sino-Pakistani military ties, it revealed China supplied 82% of Pakistan’s arms imports between 2019-2023, with joint exercises intensifying in 2024-2025. Pakistan responded by hiking its defence budget 20% to $9 billion despite overall fiscal constraints.