Key Points:
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed on December 30 that Beijing mediated India-Pakistan tensions in May 2025
- India maintains the conflict was resolved through direct DGMO talks on May 10 at 15:35 hours, rejecting third-party involvement
- US President Donald Trump had previously claimed his administration prevented a potential nuclear war between the nuclear-armed neighbors
- The military confrontation lasted from May 7-10 after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack
- China is Pakistan’s largest arms supplier, providing significant military equipment to Islamabad
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on December 30 that China played a role in de-escalating heightened tensions between India and Pakistan during the May military standoff. Speaking at a seminar in Beijing on international affairs and China’s foreign policy, Wang Yi positioned Beijing’s approach as balanced and pragmatic, focusing on root causes rather than just symptoms of conflicts. He included the India-Pakistan tensions among several international issues where China claimed mediating roles, alongside the northern Myanmar conflict, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the recent Cambodia-Thailand dispute.
India’s Consistent Rejection of Third-Party Mediation
The Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly asserted that the May 7-10 military confrontation was resolved through direct communication between the DGMOs of both countries’ armies. According to official statements, the specific date, time, and wording of the understanding were finalized during a phone call on May 10, 2025, commencing at 15:35 hours between the military operations chiefs. India has maintained this position consistently since the conflict ended, emphasizing that there is no role for third-party mediation in matters between India and Pakistan.
Timeline of the May 2025 Conflict
The military tensions originated from the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation initially focused on terror group facilities, including those linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM). The conflict escalated over four days, with both sides exchanging artillery, missile, and drone strikes across the Line of Control and international border. Pakistan launched its Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos on May 10, targeting Indian military bases before the DGMO talks established a ceasefire.
US Mediation Claims and Diplomatic Fallout
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for averting a potential nuclear war, stating he was “directly involved” in stopping the conflict. Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir at the White House in June 2025, marking the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s military leader without senior civilian officials present. During their two-hour discussion, Trump thanked Munir for helping end hostilities with India, while also praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Modi explicitly communicated to Trump during a subsequent phone call that India does not accept mediation and that the ceasefire was achieved through direct military communication. Pakistan has expressed gratitude to Washington for its perceived mediating role, creating a diplomatic divergence between the two South Asian neighbors.
China’s Strategic Position and Pakistan Alliance
Questions about China’s role have been amplified by its status as Pakistan’s largest arms supplier, providing substantial military equipment to Islamabad’s armed forces. At the diplomatic level, China appealed for restraint on the first day of Operation Sindoor and expressed concern over India’s airstrikes. Beijing’s December 30 claim appears to be taking a page from Trump’s diplomatic approach, despite India’s firm and consistent rejection of such assertions. The Chinese Foreign Minister’s statement comes months after the conflict, suggesting an attempt to position China as a global peacemaker amid increasing international conflicts.
