According to an investigation carried out by French intelligence services and published by France 24, China allegedly launched a full-fledged international disinformation campaign to discredit Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter.
The operation, described as ‘coordinated and systematic,’ was purportedly launched immediately after the controversial employment of the aircraft by India in conflicts with Pakistan in May 2025. This occurs in the context of the so-called Operation Sindoor, wherein the Indian Air Force conducted a raid using, amongst others, the largely Rafale aircraft purchased from Paris.
The episode saw the downing of at least three aircraft, one of which, according to unofficial sources, was a Rafale. This news was never officially confirmed by the Indian government but was deemed ‘credible’ by French sources. French intelligence claims that Beijing mobilized its embassies, particularly those in Asia and the Middle East, to actively cast doubt on the operational capabilities of the Rafale. Chinese military personnel would have questioned the reliability of the aircraft during official discussions with foreign representatives, suggesting that the aircraft did not pass the test of actual combat.
Simultaneously, the campaign would have also unfolded on social media, where memes, manipulated videos, alleged technical reports, and images generated by artificial intelligence have appeared, all aimed at portraying the Rafale as an ‘overrated plane.’ French services traced at least a thousand accounts linked to known disinformation networks, with suspicious links to groups operating from China.
According to Elysée sources, the primary objective of the Chinese campaign was to undermine the commercial credibility of the Rafale in markets where France is negotiating for new sales, especially with Indonesia and Malaysia. In both cases, the Chinese are actively promoting their multirole J-10C jet, offered at very favorable economic conditions. The Chinese strategy aims to weaken France’s strategic influence in the Pacific and gain ground in defense markets, exploiting all channels to amplify negative messages.
French authorities have vehemently rejected the Chinese narrative and described the campaign as ‘an hostile act that goes beyond normal commercial competition.’ The Ministry of Defense reiterated that the Rafale remains one of the few multirole fighters in the world to have demonstrated operational capabilities in real scenarios, both in Asia and in Africa and the Middle East. The Chinese ambassador in Paris was informally summoned for clarifications, but Beijing denied any involvement, talking about ‘unfounded and defamatory accusations.’
