“Defence May Be the Wrong Word”: Shashi Tharoor Flags China’s Deep Involvement in Pakistan Conflict

Congress MP Tharoor, speaking in Washington DC, highlights the China-Pakistan nexus in light of Operation Sindoor and warns against underestimating Beijing’s influence.

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June 7, 2025 | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a parliamentary delegation to the United States, has raised serious concerns about China’s extensive military and strategic support to Pakistan, calling it a crucial factor in the recent India-Pakistan conflict during Operation Sindoor.

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Speaking at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, Tharoor emphasized that 81% of Pakistan’s defence equipment is Chinese, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains the largest project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. He cautioned that China’s presence in the region cannot be ignored — diplomatically, militarily, or economically.

“Defence may be the wrong word here. Offence in many ways… China is an absolutely impossible factor to ignore in what has been our confrontation with Pakistan,” Tharoor stated bluntly.

China’s UN Veto & Military Backing

Tharoor also referenced China’s role in diluting the UN Security Council’s condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. With China’s support, Pakistan succeeded in removing references to The Resistance Front, a known terror proxy.

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“We saw a very different China at the UN during Operation Sindoor,” Tharoor said, lamenting how political cover at global forums complemented China’s technological support to Pakistan.

China’s Military Tech in Pakistan’s Arsenal

At a session with the Council on Foreign Relations, Tharoor described how Indian intelligence detected Pakistan deploying China’s advanced “kill chain” systems — tightly integrated networks involving radar, GPS, aircraft, and missile systems.

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“We simply did things differently. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to hit 11 airfields or breach Chinese-supplied air defences,” Tharoor revealed, showcasing India’s real-time strategic recalibration.

India-China Relations: Progress & Paradox

Despite underlying tensions, Tharoor clarified that India continues to engage with China economically, pointing out record levels of bilateral trade. But he urged global partners not to be naïve about China’s double role as both a trade partner and a covert adversary.

“We’ve kept channels of communication open, even with adversaries. But it would be naive to ignore the other currents around us,” he warned.

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Tags:

Shashi Tharoor, China Pakistan Conflict, Operation Sindoor, India China Relations, UN Security Council, Pahalgam Attack, CPEC, China Military Exports, Belt and Road Initiative, Indian Foreign Policy