Operation Sindoor: India’s deadly strikes inside Pakistan, PoK is a concern for China due to…

While the message for Pakistan is clear as day, the success of Operation Sindoor, which showcased India's capability to strike deep inside the enemy country, is also a major cause of concern for China.

Operation Sindoor: Indian Armed Forces avenged the brutal Pahalgam terror attack by launching a wave of deadly, precision missile strikes on as many as nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday midnight under Operation Sindoor, sending a clear message to the neighbouring country that sponsoring terror acts on Indian soil would no longer be tolerated.

While the message for Pakistan is clear as day, the success of Operation Sindoor, which showcased India’s capability to strike deep inside the enemy country, is also a major cause of concern for Islamabad’s “all-weather ally” and New Delhi’s arch rival, China, who dreams of replacing the United States as the sole global superpower in the near future.

Chinese weapons under scanner

India’s lethal strikes inside Pakistan and PoK have raised questions about the Chinese-made air defense systems, such as the LY-80 LOMADS and HQ-9, employed by Pakistan as these reportedly failed to track Indian missiles and fighter jets, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) stating that nine terrorists bases were struck within a mere 25-minute timeframe using advanced missiles like BrahMos, SCALP, and Spice-2000.

Pakistan had acquired the LY-80 system in 2014 and the HQ-9 systems in 2021, and it was claimed these air defense systems boast a range between 100-200 km and can track as many as 100 targets simultaneously. According to military experts, the overwhelming success of Operation Sindoor has demolished the credibility of Chinese weaponry in the global arms market, while simultaneously boosting the reputation of India’s indigenously produced missile systems like the BrahMos and and the Nirbhay.

Beijing’s failure to put pressure on India

India’s strikes have also put the China-Pakistan alliance under the scanner with experts wondering why Beijing was unable to mount pressure on New Delhi to save its “trusted” partner. Notably, while India clarified it specifically targeted terror bases in PoK, its believed that Operation Sindoor may have indirectly put Chinese interests in the region linked to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at risk, raising concerns for Beijing.

Following the attacks, several countries, including Qatar, Turkey, and China, expressed concern about increasing regional tensions, and called for restraint. But contrary to its earlier stance, China did not use any strong words, nor condemned India over Operation Sindoor.

China’s CPEC concerns

According to geopolitical experts, a prolonged conflict with India, which now seems likely after Operation Sindoor, will push Pakistan’s already crumbling economy to the brink of total collapse, and this economic instability will negatively impact China’s ambitious CPEC project.

Recently, Pakistan had demanded an additional swap line of $10 billion from China, and Islamabad hopes Beijing does not back out of CPEC because of the former’s fragile stock market and a debilitating economic crisis which can be a major risk to China’s mega investment in these projects.

Experts believe that while China would like to prevent further deterioration of Pakistan’s economy due to its own interests, Beijing is currently pre-occupied with fighting a tariff war with the United States, and finds itself powerless to help its ally.

Operation Sindoor showcases India’s surging global influence

According to defence experts, Operation Sindoor has boosted India’s regional influence and showcased it as a nation that stands resolute against terrorism, a stance supported by allies like Israel. Notably, both US and the United Nations (UN) have not condemned India’s military action, instead appealing for restraint, which is being seen as a major diplomatic victory for New Delhi.

Geopolitical experts assert that China’s failure to put pressure on India to stand down, and its tone in addressing the missile strikes on Pakistan, shows New Delhi’s growing global influence which poses a challenge to Beijing’s dominance in South Asia.