Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has claimed that China helped mediate tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year, placing the episode alongside other international conflicts where Beijing has asserted a peace-brokering role. The statement has drawn attention in New Delhi, which has consistently rejected any third-party involvement in bilateral disputes with Pakistan.
Wang Yi Highlights China’s Expanding Mediation Role
Speaking at a seminar on international relations in Beijing, Wang Yi outlined what he described as China’s efforts to resolve multiple global conflicts. “We have mediated issues of northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear issue, the tensions between Pakistan and India, the Palestine-Israel issues, and the recent Cambodia and Thailand conflict,” he said, presenting China as a stabilising force amid global instability.
Reference to May India-Pakistan Military Confrontation
Wang’s remarks appear to refer to the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May, which followed a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The attack killed 26 people, most of them tourists, and triggered heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Operation Sindoor and Cross-Border Strikes
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting what it described as Pakistan-backed militant camps across the Line of Control. New Delhi accused Islamabad of supporting the attackers responsible for the Pahalgam incident, an allegation Pakistan denied.
De-escalation Through Direct Military Talks
The standoff concluded on May 10 after direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries via an established military hotline. Indian officials have repeatedly stated that the de-escalation was achieved bilaterally, without the involvement of any third party.
India Firm on No Third-Party Mediation
India has consistently maintained that all issues with Pakistan must be addressed bilaterally, in line with the Simla Agreement and subsequent understandings. New Delhi has previously dismissed similar claims of external mediation, asserting that any third-party role in India-Pakistan relations is unacceptable.
Concerns Over China’s Peace Broker Narrative
Wang Yi’s comments have renewed debate over China’s ambitions to project itself as a global peace broker. For India, such claims are viewed with scepticism, particularly given Beijing’s close strategic ties with Pakistan and ongoing border tensions with India.
Diplomatic Implications Ahead
The remarks underscore the complexities of regional diplomacy and raise questions about China’s intentions in South Asia. As India continues to emphasise bilateralism in its engagement with Pakistan, China’s assertion of a mediating role is likely to remain a point of diplomatic contention.