Page 10 - The Indian EYE 053025

OPINION MAY 30, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

‘Operation Sindoor’ and

China’s Response

DR PRASHANT KUMAR SINGH
A
dastardly terrorist attack facil-
itated by Pakistan claimed the
lives of 26 innocent people,
mostly tourists, at Baisaran meadow
near Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. In
response, India launched a punitive
military strike on terror infrastruc-
ture, Operation Sindoor, in Pakistan
as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
on 7 May. The next four days saw in-
tense exchange of firepower between
the two sides, with Pakistan targeting
India’s military installations, forcing
it to retaliate. A ceasefire was an-
nounced on 10 May.
This Brief analyses China’s of-
ficial responses, relying on the state-
ments issued by its foreign ministry
and the official media, Xinhua and
China Daily. It seeks to ascertain
whether the Chinese response will
break the normalisation momentum
between India and China begun late
last year after a more than four-year-
long stand-off that began in April–
May 2020 with the PLA seeking to
change the status quo in eastern La-
dakh. It concludes that while the Chi-
nese response is indeed disappointing India launched a punitive military strike on terror infrastructure, Operation Sindoor, in Pakistan as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
from an Indian point of view, it still
leaves space to conclude that the pri- on 7 May (File photo)
or momentum that sought to repair
bilateral ties can be maintained. ment of the region”. It further added settlement through peaceful means”, that war is not the choice of the In-
that both countries should “solve dif- without specifying the nature of the dian side”. Apart from this, Wang Yi
CHINESE OFFICIAL ferences through dialogue and jointly political settlement. by and large conveyed the same broad
STATEMENTS keep the region peaceful and stable”. After India and Pakistan an- points that the Chinese foreign min-
On 7 May, the day when India nounced a ceasefire on 10 May, the istry has been making from 23 April
n 23 April, the Chinese for- launched punitive strikes on terror ministry said that China had been “in onwards.
eign ministry “strongly” con- infrastructure in Pakistan, Beijing close communication with relevant However, the Chinese readout
Odemned the attack, generi- termed India’s military operation as parties”, specifically mentioning For- on his conversation with Mohammad
cally maintaining that “China firmly “regrettable”, skirting the point that eign Minister Wang Yi’s telephon- Ishaq Dar reveals a more substantial
opposes all forms of terrorism” but India’s targets in “Pakistan and Pa- ic calls to India’s National Security message. He expressed sympathies
without any reference to cross-border kistan-occupied Kashmir were main- Adviser Ajit Doval and Pakistan’s for “civilian casualties” the conflict
complicity in the heinous act. As India ly related to terror infrastructure”. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign had “caused on the Pakistani side”.
began turning up the heat on Pakistan Furthermore, it expressed its willing- Minister Ishaq Dar. It stated that the While the readout of his conver-
for its crimes, the ministry stated on ness to play “a constructive role in purpose of the calls was “to counsel sation with Doval informs that he
28 April that China “supports carry- easing the current tensions”… “with de-escalation and realization of a condemned “the terrorist attack in
ing out fair and just investigations at the rest of the international commu- full and lasting ceasefire”. It claimed Pahalgam area”, it does not mention
an early date”. It advised both India nity…” and promote talks to keep that both “responded positively” and whether he expressed any sympathies
and Pakistan to “exercise restraint”, “the region peaceful and stable”. It China reiterated its wish to “play a for the victims in the terrorist attack,
calling them “important countries in counselled both countries “to observe constructive role in realizing a full and, particularly, for the loss of life
South Asia”, reminding both of them international law, including the UN and lasting ceasefire”. The Chinese in artillery shelling by Pakistan in the
that they are China’s neighbours and Charter”. Advising them to refrain readout informs that during his call to Poonch area.
their “harmonious coexistence is vital from further escalation, it urged them Ajit Doval, Wang Yi conveyed to him Wang Yi assured Dar of China’s
to the peace, stability and develop- to “return to the track of political that “China applauds [his] statement Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com