US Congress Report Sparks Controversy: Claims Pakistan's "Military Success" in May 2025 Clash, Highlights China's Role

WASHINGTON / NEW DELHI — A newly released report by a US Congressional commission has triggered a diplomatic and political storm in New Delhi by claiming that Pakistan achieved "military success" against India during the brief but intense four-day conflict in May 2025. The report further asserts that China opportunistically used the hostilities as a live "testing ground" to market its defense hardware to the world.

The revelations come from the 2025 Annual Report of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), submitted to the US Congress this Wednesday. The findings contradict official Indian narratives regarding the outcome of "Operation Sindoor" and have fueled a fresh wave of political criticism against the Modi government.

"Testing Ground" for Chinese Weapons

The 800-page report provides a startling analysis of the conflict triggered by the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. According to the commission, the clash served as a real-world advertisement for Beijing's expanding military industry.

"Pakistan’s military success over India in its four-day clash showcased Chinese weaponry," the report states. It highlights that the conflict marked the combat debut of several advanced Chinese systems employed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), including:

• J-10C Fighter Jets

• HQ-9 Air Defense Systems

• PL-15 Air-to-Air Missiles

• Wing Loong II Drones

The USCC noted that Beijing "opportunistically leveraged the conflict to test and advertise the sophistication of its weapons," specifically to undercut Western competitors. The report also mentions unsubstantiated claims that China provided "live inputs" on Indian military positions to Pakistan during the crisis—allegations that Beijing has neither confirmed nor denied.

Disinformation War: Rafale vs. J-35

In a separate but related disclosure, the report accuses China of launching a coordinated disinformation campaign in the aftermath of the conflict. Citing French intelligence, the USCC claims Chinese actors used fake social media accounts and AI-generated images of "debris" to falsely portray French-made Rafale jets (flown by the Indian Air Force) as vulnerable.

The goal, according to the report, was to hinder Rafale sales in nations like Indonesia and promote China’s own J-35 stealth fighters as a superior alternative.