While the SCO Summit showcased Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharing warm moments with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the chatter across the globe was about how Trump's tariffs pushed India towards China. The whole event was construed as a subtle messaging to US President Donald Trump about the emergence of a multi-polar world.
But, there was something else that caught the Chinese media’s attention, which many interpret as Xi Jinping’s “subtle messaging” to India. On the day Narendra Modi arrived at Tianjin for the summit, the Chinese state broadcaster released a short video detailing the capabilities of the PL-15 missile. The short video shows a fighter jet releasing a PL-15 missile, the same missile Pakistan apparently used against India in Operation Sindhoor.
While this could be a part of Chinese propaganda as part of the mega military parade planned on September 3, as part of the "Victory Day" event marking 80 years since Japan's defeat at the end of World War Two, Chinese media Sohu has given it another interpretation.
According to Sohu, while seemingly ordinary, the video was quite remarkable at this sensitive moment. The report added that the video not only served to “showcase for China's military industrial prowess, but also sent a subtle yet powerful signal to India: Don't be complacent; the true capabilities of the country may be far more complex and challenging than you imagine.”
Sohu went on to claim that the Pakistani Air Force relied on this weapon to shoot down multiple Indian aircraft.” Despite India's persistent denials of victory, the resulting panic and frustration were unavoidable,” Sohu claimed.
The report added that CCTV's decision to release detailed data on the PL-15 at this moment demonstrated a subtle tactical intent, both to demonstrate confidence and to sound a warning to its adversaries: a comparison of strength must go beyond superficial numbers and flashy publicity.
While the claims by Sohu can just be dismissed as a nationalistic statement typical of Chinese media, the fact remains that the majority of Chinese media are mouthpieces of the state.
That said, even Indian analysts believe the India-China thaw is just a tactical move, considering that there is a deep mistrust between the countries with regard to border issues.
