Fact-check: Did China celebrate Pakistan's victory after clashes with India?

After Pakistan and India declared a ceasefire on May 10, following four days of military conflict, a video began circulating on social media purportedly showing people in China celebrating Pakistan’s victory in the flare-up with India.

The claim is baseless. The video clip was recorded before the recent conflict and is unrelated to it.

Claim

On May 15, a TikTok account posted a short video that shows an elaborate display of drones and fireworks arranged in the shape of a crescent moon. The video is overlaid with the text: “Pakistan’s Victory Celebration in China.”

The claim has also spread on X (Twitter).

Fact

While the video was indeed recorded in China, it predates the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan.

India launched strikes on Pakistan on May 7, triggering a four-day conflict between the two neighbors, which ended with a ceasefire on May 10.

However, the video being shared was first posted online on May 5, therefore two days before the May 7 strikes by India.

In fact, the video can be traced back to the official X account of the Chinese Embassy in the US, which posted the promotional video on May 5 with the caption: “Huan, Liuyang’s fireworks show just took it to the next level. Witness white moon blooms pierce the night as galaxy glitter cascades over rippling waters.”

The post makes no mention of Pakistan.

Verdict: The video being circulated was filmed in China but was first posted online before the conflict began. It shows a fireworks display unrelated to any geopolitical event and makes no reference to Pakistan.

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