China has officially confirmed providing on-site technical assistance to Pakistan during last year’s conflict with India. An engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China detailed his team’s efforts to support Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10CE fighter planes amid grueling conditions. This revelation comes after previous denials and downplaying of Chinese military involvement by Beijing.

Beijing: China has for the first time confirmed that it provided on-site technical assistance to Pakistan during the four-day clash with India last year, according to official media reports.China’s state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced combat aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle designs.The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, citing CCTV, reported that Zhang had provided technical assistance to Pakistan during the four-day war last May.

Proof of the team’s deep bond: Zhang

The Pakistan Air Force operates a fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, manufactured by a subsidiary of AVIC. At the support base, we often heard the roar of fighter planes and the constant sound of air raid sirens. By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 °C (122 °F). It was a real test for us mentally and physically,” Zhang said.Zhang told CCTV that his team was motivated by “the desire to do an even better job with on-site support” and to ensure that their equipment “can really perform at its full combat capability”. He said, “This was not just recognition of J10CE; it was also a testament to the deep bond we had built by working together day and night.”Chinese Foreign Ministry and military officials have either avoided or downplayed allegations of China’s support for Pakistan during the conflict. There was no official reaction to India’s vice army chief Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh’s claim that Beijing had provided active military assistance to Pakistan. Operation SindoorUsing conflict as a “living laboratory”.The J-10CE is the export version of the J-10C 4.5-generation fighter and is considered the most advanced model in the J-10 series. It includes an active electronically scanned array or AESA radar and is compatible with advanced Chinese weapons, including air-to-air missiles.