China Used Its Embassies To Spread Doubt, Undermine Sales Of Rafale After India-pakistan Clash: Report

China reportedly deployed its embassies to dispersed uncertainty astir nan capacity of Rafale jets, made successful France, aft nan India and Pakistan conflict this May. The subject action betwixt India and Pakistan – nan astir superior confrontation successful years – saw some sides deploy their aerial powerfulness for combat. 

According to a study successful The Associated Press, French subject and intelligence officials person implicated Beijing for attempting to clang nan income arsenic good arsenic impact nan estimation of France’s flagship fighter.

Defence attaches successful China’s overseas embassies attempted to undermine nan income of Rafale and seduce countries that person already ordered nan jets not to bargain them. They encouraged these countries and different imaginable buyers to opt for China-made jets, arsenic per nan French subject findings.

Chinese embassy defence attaches person reportedly held meetings pinch information and defence officials from various countries, promoting Chinese-made weaponry and criticising nan capacity of Indian Air Force Rafale jets. The defence attaches targeted countries that person already ordered Rafales arsenic good arsenic imaginable buyers considering nan aircraft, according to intelligence sources. French officials became alert of these meetings done reports from nan nations approached.

The Ministry of National Defence successful Beijing, commenting connected nan allegations, dismissed them arsenic "pure groundless rumors and slander." The ministry told nan news agency that China maintains a prudent and responsible attack to subject exports and contributes constructively to location and world bid and stability.

Since nan India and Pakistan clash, France has been fighting a disinformation run against nan Rafale. Pakistan claimed that its jets downed 3 Indian Rafale, which, France has said, has raised questions from different countries astir nan capacity of nan planes. 

India has not acknowledged nan number but said it suffered losses.

French officials opportunity they person been battling a concerted run of Rafale-bashing and disinformation, dispersed by Pakistan and its ally, China. Many of these posts showed manipulated images of expected Rafale debris. The officials, however, person said that they were incapable to nexus nan online misinformation straight pinch nan Chinese government.

Published on: Jul 7, 2025 9:29 AM IST