Following the United States' decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist organization, China has expressed its opposition to all forms of terrorism. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, stated that China "firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22". This statement came in response to a media briefing question regarding the U.S. State Department's decision to label TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Lin Jian also called for increased counter-terrorism cooperation among regional countries to maintain security and stability in the region. This stance follows the U.S. designation of TRF, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a foreign terrorist organization due to its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 people.
The U.S. State Department officially designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this designation underscores the U.S. commitment to combating terrorism.
The U.S. action is expected to have implications within the UN Security Council, particularly concerning the 1267 Committee, which focuses on designating terrorists and their organizations. Several Pakistani terrorist groups and individuals, including LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), are already listed under the UN Security Council's 1267 sanctions regime.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, which targeted civilians in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, international reactions varied. While many countries condemned the attack, China's initial response was described as "more calibrated," expressing "sincere sympathies" without directly naming Pakistan. Later, China urged restraint and dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Following the Pahalgam incident, there were reports that China sided with Pakistan to prevent the UNSC from including TRF in its press note. Despite this, India continued its diplomatic efforts, which ultimately led to the U.S. decision to blacklist the group.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the U.S. for recognizing TRF's involvement in terrorism, emphasizing a "zero tolerance for terrorism" approach and highlighting the growing counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the U.S.
While condemning the Pahalgam attack, China has, at times, refrained from explicitly blaming Pakistan or supporting direct references to TRF in international statements. Some reports suggest that China has historically avoided direct involvement in disputes between India and Pakistan, despite close ties with Islamabad.