China&rsquo;s foreign minister Wang Yi on Tuesday claimed that Beijing had mediated tensions between India and Pakistan this year, a statement that has been dismissed as unfounded by people familiar with the matter in New Delhi.
The claim comes months after India and Pakistan witnessed a serious military escalation in May, following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Pahalgam valley on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to days of heightened military alert on both sides.
Wang Yi made the remarks while addressing a symposium on the international situation and China&rsquo;s foreign relations in Beijing. He listed India-Pakistan tensions among several global conflicts that China had allegedly helped &ldquo;mediate&rdquo; during the year, alongside issues such as Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear question, Palestine-Israel, and Southeast Asian disputes.
However, individuals aware of the developments said China had no role whatsoever in de-escalating the India-Pakistan standoff. They described Beijing&rsquo;s assertion as unusual and inconsistent with the actual sequence of events.
According to these sources, the cessation of hostilities on May 10 was achieved solely through direct communication between senior military officials of India and Pakistan. India has consistently maintained that all matters relating to India-Pakistan relations are bilateral and do not permit third-party mediation.
China&rsquo;s role during the May confrontation had earlier drawn attention due to reports suggesting Beijing provided Pakistan with surveillance support and other assistance. China remains Pakistan&rsquo;s largest arms supplier, accounting for over 80% of Islamabad&rsquo;s military hardware. Indian officials have previously stated that the conflict was used by China to showcase its defence technology.
The Chinese claim has also been compared to repeated assertions by US President Donald Trump about mediating between India and Pakistan, claims that New Delhi has firmly rejected in the past.

Beijing’s claim termed bizarre as India says ceasefire was bilateral

China Claims India-Pak Mediation, India Denies

Beijing’s claim termed bizarre as India says ceasefire was bilateral

December 31, 2025 | 10:09 IST