The Pahalgam massacre of April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives, has become a defining moment in India’s battle against cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt down every perpetrator and their enablers. But China’s diplomatic shielding of Pakistan threatens to derail this resolve.

While China officially condemned the attack and offered condolences, its actions told a different story. On April 27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called his Pakistani counterpart to express support and emphasize Pakistan’s “legitimate security concerns.” He pressed for a “swift and fair investigation,” echoing Islamabad’s demand for a probe by “neutral” observers—an echo of past deflections like the stalled Pathankot attack probe in 2016.

China’s duplicity isn’t new. When the world sought an impartial investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak, Beijing responded by banning Australian imports. Now, it blocks India’s bid for action against Pakistan-backed terrorists while defending its own anti-terror actions in Xinjiang and abroad.

Despite suffering the highest Chinese casualties abroad in Pakistan—32 deaths in 14 attacks—China still chooses to protect Islamabad, even as its citizens there travel in armored convoys. In contrast, no such threat exists for Chinese nationals in India.

China’s track record includes blocking UN sanctions on terrorists like Masood Azhar and Zakir-ur-Rehman. Wang Yi’s latest call appears aimed at propping up Pakistan’s image and curbing India’s counter-terror measures—while deflecting from China’s border aggressions.