New Delhi has responded with surprise to claims made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Beijing played a role in mediating tensions between India and Pakistan. Wang Yi stated on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, that China had mediated in several hotspot issues this year, including the tensions between India and Pakistan. This assertion contradicts India's position that the conflict in May 2025 was resolved through direct communication between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries.

According to sources familiar with the matter, India maintains that China was not involved in bringing an end to the hostilities. One person described the Chinese claim as "bizarre". The conflict, referred to as Operation Sindoor, occurred between May 7 and May 10, triggered by India's military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Wang Yi made the remarks at the "Symposium on the International Situation and China's Foreign Relations" in Beijing. He noted that "local wars and cross-border conflicts flared up more often than at any time since the end of World War II". He further added, "Following this Chinese approach to settling hotspot issues, we mediated in northern Myanmar, the Iranian nuclear issue, the tensions between Pakistan and India, the issues between Palestine and Israel, and the recent conflict between Cambodia and Thailand".

China's role in the May conflict had already been under scrutiny, particularly regarding the military assistance provided to Pakistan. China had urged restraint from both sides at the time, expressing regret over India's airstrikes. However, China's ongoing military support for Pakistan has raised concerns in New Delhi about the impact of the close ties between China and Pakistan on China's relationship with India.

During the May conflict, China, which supplies over 81% of Pakistan's military hardware, downplayed India's concerns that Beijing used the conflict as a "live lab".

While China has been actively involved in mediating between Afghanistan and Pakistan, its claim of mediating between India and Pakistan is seen as unusual, especially given the existing mechanisms for dialogue between the two countries. Some analysts suggest that China's claim is similar to past claims by former US President Donald Trump of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict.

Wang Yi also addressed other international issues in his speech, including China's relationship with Taiwan, vowing to counter US arms sales to Taiwan and reiterating China's policy towards the island. He positioned China as a "global anchor of stability" and condemned trade wars.