The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | May 19th, 2025: How China Helped Pakistan Shoot Down Indian Jets & IDF Begins Massive Ground Offensive In Gaza
19 May 2025
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, amid the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, we’re now learning that China played a direct role in helping the Pakistani military shoot down Indian fighter jets earlier this month, a revelation that risks deepening tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Later in the show—Israel begins large-scale ground operations across the Gaza Strip as part of a major new offensive that aims dismantle Hamas’ remaining military capabilities and take full control of the battered enclave. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 Kikoff: Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at https://GetKikoff.com/mike today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
It's Monday, the 19th of May. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed.
First, an update on the current and admittedly somewhat fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as we learn that China played a direct role in helping the Pakistani military shoot down Indian fighter jets during the brief clash over Kashmir earlier this month. We'll discuss the implications for regional stability.
Later in the show, Israel begins large-scale ground operations against the Gaza Strip as part of a major new offensive that aims to dismantle Hamas's remaining military capabilities and take full control of the battered enclave. But first, today's afternoon spotlight.
Amid the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, we're now learning that China played a direct role in assisting Islamabad in the shooting down of Indian fighter jets earlier this month, a revelation that risks deepening tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to Indian defense officials, Chinese military advisers assisted Pakistan in repositioning its radar systems and satellite coverage just days before the aerial clash, enabling Islamabad to track Indian aircraft, weaponry, and troop movements in real time. The collaboration reportedly followed the 22 April terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 tourists dead.
An assault New Delhi insists was a work of Islamabad-backed Islamic terrorists. Pakistan, of course, continues to deny any involvement or responsibility.
Ashok Kumar, director general of the Center for Joint Warfare Studies in New Delhi, that's a think tank under India's Ministry of Defense, told reporters that Chinese personnel worked side by side with Pakistani forces to recalibrate the air defense systems and enhance surveillance capabilities ahead of the confrontation.
Now, as we covered here on the PDB, India responded to the Kashmir attack with cross-border airstrikes on the 7th of May, targeting what it claimed were nine terrorist camps operating inside Pakistani territory. Islamabad countered with its own show of force, claiming it shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three French-made twin-engine fighters.
India has yet to confirm or deny the alleged losses. Crucially, Pakistani forces utilized Chinese-made J-10C jets in the retaliatory strikes, also deploying the Beijing-developed PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, which had never been used in combat before. That detail has alarmed defense analysts across Asia, particularly in Taiwan, which could face similar tactics in future conflict.
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