China Admits Sending Technical Experts To Pakistan Air Bases During Operation Sindoor
China has, for the first time, acknowledged that it deployed technical experts to Pakistani air bases during last year’s military escalation with India, referred to in India as Operation Sindoor. The revelation was reported by the South China Morning Post, citing comments aired on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The admission comes in the backdrop of heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. In response, India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminating over 100 militants linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
According to the SCMP report, engineers from China’s state-owned aviation giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) were involved in providing on-ground technical assistance to Pakistan during the conflict. One of the engineers, Zhang Heng from AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, described working under extreme conditions at Pakistani air bases, where temperatures reportedly reached 50°C while fighter jets were actively deployed.
The institute, a key developer of China’s advanced combat aircraft and UAV systems, played a role in supporting Pakistan’s fleet, which includes the Chinese-origin Chengdu J-10 (J-10CE export variant). Zhang said the team’s objective was to ensure optimal battlefield performance of the aircraft.
Another AVIC engineer, Xu Da, compared the fighter jet development process to raising a “child,” emphasizing long-term collaboration and confidence in its combat readiness. Pakistan currently operates J-10CE jets and has also placed orders for advanced Chinese systems, including PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
Strategic analysts note that around 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware originates from China, making Beijing its largest defence supplier. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows China has exported billions of dollars in arms to Pakistan over the last decade, reinforcing deep military ties between the two nations.
Indian defence officials, including senior Army leadership, have previously described Pakistan as heavily dependent on Chinese military technology, with concerns that real-time conflict environments are being used by China to test weapons systems under operational conditions.
The latest disclosure marks the first public acknowledgment of Chinese personnel directly assisting Pakistan during a live conflict scenario involving India, further highlighting the evolving strategic triangle between India, China, and Pakistan.
