A French intelligence service says China has used its embassies to promote claims that Chinese-made Pakistani warplanes outperformed French Rafale jets during India-Pakistan clashes in May

In an extensive disinformation campaign traced back to Beijing, Chinese embassies mobilized to discredit the French-made Rafale fighter jet following its combat role in the India–Pakistan conflict in May, according to a French military intelligence assessment shared with The Associated Press (AP).

French officials say they have found that the Chinese embassies are trying to undermine Rafale sales by persuading countries that have already ordered the jets, notably Indonesia, not to buy them and instead choose Chinese-made fighters.