China has refused to comment on the performance of its weapons used by Pakistan during the recent military confrontation with India, including the advanced PL-15E air-to-air missile, remnants of which were recovered by Indian forces. The missile was reportedly part of Pakistan’s attempted counterattacks during India’s Operation Sindoor conducted from May 7 to 10, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Sr Col Zhang Xiaogang was asked about the effectiveness of the PL-15E missile, a Chinese export weapon frequently showcased at defence expos. He responded by saying, “The missile you mentioned is an export equipment and has been shown at defence exhibitions at home and abroad many times,” declining to offer any assessment of its performance during the conflict.
Col Zhang instead reiterated China’s call for calm and restraint, saying, “India and Pakistan are neighbours that cannot be moved away. We hope both sides remain calm and restrained and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.” He added that China supports regional peace and stands ready to play a constructive role in securing a lasting ceasefire between the two countries.
The question on the missile’s performance emerged after Indian forces recovered parts of the Chinese-made PL-15E missile that failed to detonate during Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes. The incident has cast doubts on the effectiveness of Chinese weaponry and highlighted concerns about the reliability of the military hardware being supplied to Pakistan.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China accounted for 81% of Pakistan’s total arms imports between 2020 and 2024. These supplies have included fighter jets, submarines, naval vessels, and a wide array of missile systems. China and Pakistan also co-develop the JF-17 fighter jet, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s air force.
While the Chinese government has remained diplomatically cautious, state-run media in China have given notable attention to the India-Pakistan conflict, underscoring Beijing’s deep military engagement with Islamabad. However, the recent developments may raise further questions about the battlefield credibility of Chinese defence exports.
