China orchestrated a disinformation campaign against the Dassault Rafale following the fighter jet’s use in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, according to media reports. The reports added that Beijing did so intentionally, aiming to sabotage the Rafale's global demand and sales.
The campaign, carried out by Beijing's embassies, allegedly involved spreading doubts about the performance of Rafale, leveraging Pakistan's claims that its air force downed five Indian planes, including three Rafales, during the May four-day military conflict of India-Pakistan. The reports further stated that, according to a French military official, in an attempt to damage the Rafale’s reputation, China approached every country that purchased the Dassault-manufactured fighter jet, telling them to stop buying it.
According to a French intelligence report, defence attachés from Chinese embassies claimed that the Rafale jets used by the Indian Air Force had performed poorly. In meetings with security and defence officials from other nations, they promoted Chinese-made weapons instead, citing the media report. It added that French officials became aware of these meetings through the countries that had been approached.
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The disinformation included viral social media posts, AI-generated content, and manipulated imagery to promote Chinese-made aircraft and undermine Rafale sales, particularly in countries like Indonesia, media further reported.
On the other hand, reports are there of French officials and Dassault Aviation dismissing Pakistan's claims, with CEO Eric Trappier calling them 'inaccurate' and stating only one Rafale was lost due to a technical issue.
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