French intelligence claims China trying to foil global sale of Rafale jets
French army and intelligence officials claim that China has deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French manufacturing jets following the air combat Between India and Pakistan in May.
The Associated Press news agency, citing French officials, reported on Sunday that Beijing endeavors to harm the reputation and sales of the flagship fighter plane in France.
French officials say they have discovered that Chinese embassies are trying to undermine Rafale sales by persuading countries that have already ordered the jets, including Indonesia, not to buy them and choose Chinese manufacturers.
The AP report said that the conclusions were shared by a French military official provided they should not be appointed.
Four days of India-Pakistan clashes In May, there was the most serious confrontation for years between the two nuclear weapons neighbors, which included an air fight involving dozens of planes on both sides.
Military officials and researchers have since dug for more details on the way in which the Chinese military equipment in Pakistan – in particular war planes and air combat missiles – has managed to have weapons that India used in aerial strikes on Pakistani targets, including French -made fighters.
Sales of gusts and other armaments are a large company for French Defense industry and helps Paris strengthen links with other nations, including in Asia, where China becomes the dominant regional power.
India confirms losses
Pakistan says that his air army had shot down five Indian planes during the fighting, including three gusts. French officials say that this has aroused questions about their performance by countries that bought the fighter from the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation.
India Recognized aircraft losses But did not say how much. The French Air Force leader Jerome Bellanger said he had seen evidence pointing to three aircraft losses – a burst, a Russian manufacturing sukhoi and a Mirage 2000, which is a French manufacturing jet of previous generation.
The debris of an aircraft are in the compound of a pamper mosque in the pulwama district to the cashmere administered by the Indians, May 7, 2025 [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]
It was the first known combat loss of a burst, which France sold eight countries. “Of course, all of these, the nations that bought gusts, have been asked questions,” said Bellanger.
French officials fought to protect the plane against the damage of reputation, pushing what they allege was a concerted campaign to disparage Rafale and online disinformation of Pakistan and its ally in China.
They say that the campaign included viral publications on social networks, manipulated images showing supposed burst of burst, content generated by AI and video representations to simulate an supposed fight.
According to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation of India-Pakistan, more than 1,000 social media accounts, also extended a story of Chinese technological superiority.
French complaints
France’s military officials say they have not been able to link the Rafale online directly to the Chinese government.
But the French intelligence service said that the Defense of the Chinese Embassy attached the same story during meetings they were holding with security and defense officials of other countries, arguing that Rafale Indian planes worked badly and promoted Chinese manufacturing weapons.
Defense fasteners have concentrated their lobbying on the countries that have ordered Rafales and other potential customer nations that are planning to purchases, said the intelligence service. He said French officials have learned of the nations meetings that have been approached.
The French Armed Forces Ministry said that the Rafale was targeted by “a vast disinformation campaign” which “sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, including Chinese design”.
“The Rafale has not been targeted at random. It is a highly capable fighter plane, exported abroad and deployed in a high -visibility theater,” wrote the French ministry on its website.
Questioned by the following to comment on the alleged effort of Rafale, the Ministry of National Defense in Beijing said: “The relevant affirmations are pure rumors and slanders without foundation. China has always maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability. ”
Dassault Aviation sold 533 gusts, including 323 exported to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. Indonesia ordered 42 planes and plans to buy more.
