French military and intelligence officials claim China has launched a concerted effort to discredit France’s Rafale fighter jets following their use in the May India-Pakistan aerial clashes.
The campaign reportedly involves Chinese embassies spreading doubts about the jets’ performance, particularly targeting nations like Indonesia that have ordered Rafales.
French officials assert that Beijing is promoting its own military hardware as a superior alternative.
The May clashes, the most significant confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in years, saw India deploy Rafale jets against Pakistan’s Chinese-made aircraft.
French authorities say this prompted China to undermine the Rafale’s reputation through diplomatic channels and online disinformation.
The French Ministry for Armed Forces noted that the Rafale was targeted as a “strategic French offering,” aiming to weaken France’s defense industry and its ties with Asian nations.
French researchers identified over 1,000 newly created social media accounts spreading narratives of Chinese technological superiority during the conflict.
These accounts allegedly shared manipulated imagery, AI-generated content, and video-game depictions to simulate Rafale failures.
While no direct link to the Chinese government was confirmed, French intelligence reports that Chinese embassy defense attaches lobbied countries to reconsider Rafale purchases in favor of Chinese alternatives.
Beijing’s Ministry of National Defense dismissed the allegations as “groundless rumors,” asserting China’s responsible approach to military exports.
Meanwhile, Dassault Aviation, the Rafale’s manufacturer, has sold 533 jets, with 323 exported to eight countries, including Indonesia, which is contemplating additional orders.
The campaign could challenge France’s efforts to strengthen security partnerships in Asia, where China’s influence is growing.
French officials are actively countering what they describe as a “vast campaign of disinformation” aimed at damaging the Rafale’s credibility.
The jet, deployed in high-visibility theaters, represents France’s industrial reliability and strategic autonomy.
French air force chief General Jerome Bellanger clarified that India lost only three aircraft in the clashes — a Rafale, a Sukhoi, and a Mirage 2000 — despite Pakistan’s claim of downing five Indian planes.
The allegations highlight broader tensions in the global arms market, where France’s defense exports compete with China’s growing influence.
As nations like Indonesia weigh their options, the outcome of this campaign could reshape defense relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.