Beijing: French military and intelligence officials have concluded that China orchestrated a disinformation campaign through its embassies to undermine the reputation of French-made Rafale jets during the India-Pakistan military clashes in May. The campaign aimed to promote Chinese-made military hardware as a superior alternative, thereby affecting Rafale's sales and reputation.
According to France24.com, findings from a French intelligence service, shared with The Associated Press, revealed that defense attachés in China's foreign embassies spearheaded efforts to persuade countries that have ordered the French-made fighter jets, particularly Indonesia, to reconsider their purchases in favor of Chinese planes. The intelligence report was provided by a French military official on the condition of anonymity.
The India-Pakistan clashes in May, the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, included air combat involving dozens of aircraft from both sides. French officials have been working to protect the Rafale's reputation, countering what they describe as a systematic campaign of disinformation from Pakistan and its ally China. The campaign allegedly included viral social media posts, manipulated imagery, AI-generated content, and video-game depictions simulating combat scenarios.
Although French military officials have not directly linked the online disinformation to the Chinese government, the intelligence service reported that Chinese embassy defense attachés echoed similar narratives in meetings with security and defense officials from other countries. These meetings aimed to promote Chinese-made weaponry by discrediting the performance of Indian Air Force Rafales.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense dismissed the allegations as "pure groundless rumours and slander," asserting that China maintains a prudent approach to military exports and plays a constructive role in regional and global peace.
French officials argue that the disinformation campaign targeted the Rafale not only for its capabilities but also as a strategic French offering. By undermining the aircraft's reputation, the campaign sought to damage France's credibility in defense and technology. Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale jets, has exported 323 out of 533 sold to countries including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, Serbia, and Indonesia, with Indonesia considering additional purchases.
Justin Bronk, an airpower specialist at the Royal United Services Institute in London, suggests that China's efforts might aim to weaken France's security relationships in Asia by casting doubts on the reliability of the equipment it supplies. He noted that China could leverage the purported performance of Pakistani weapon systems against Rafale to diminish its attractiveness as an export.