A new report by a U.S. congressional panel (the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission) alleges that China used the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict as a live testing ground for its most advanced military systems.
According to the report, during the four-day confrontation, Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese arms and intelligence, while India carried out strong retaliatory strikes.China allegedly provided real-time intelligence to Pakistan about Indian military positions, helping Islamabad during the clash.
The report says this was likely the first combat deployment of modern Chinese systems including the HQ-9 air-defence system, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and J-10 fighter jets turning the battle into a “real-world field experiment.”
Soon after the conflict ended, the report claims China offered Pakistan a major new defence package. The offer included 40 J-35 fifth-generation jets, KJ-500 early-warning aircraft, and ballistic missile defence systems.
In the weeks following the clash, Chinese embassies reportedly publicly celebrated the performance of these systems. Beijing used this as a marketing opportunity to boost arms sales. The report also points to a disinformation campaign: Chinese sources allegedly spread fake images (some AI-generated) to claim that enemy jets were destroyed, with the aim of undermining competitor aircraft like the French Rafale.
The panel warns this episode signals a more aggressive Chinese defence diplomacy using regional conflicts not just for strategic support, but also to test, refine, and promote its weapons in real-world conditions.
China, for its part, has denied the report’s claims.