French military intelligence has uncovered what it describes as a coordinated disinformation campaign by China, aimed at undermining global confidence in the Dassault Rafale fighter jet after its deployment in India’s Operation Sindoor airstrikes this May. The campaign reportedly involved Chinese defense attaches using embassy channels to question the Rafale’s combat performance, especially with prospective and existing operators such as Indonesia.

According to the Associated Press, their efforts extended to viral social‑media posts, AI-generated content, and doctored images purporting to show Rafale wreckage - while praising Chinese-made aircraft. France’s Defense Ministry assessed that this “vast campaign of disinformation” was intended not only to diminish the Rafale’s reputation, but also to promote Chinese alternatives and weaken France’s strategic influence .

Beijing has dismissed these claims as "groundless rumors and slander." As France works to counteract the campaign, analysts note the broader geopolitical implications - China appears to be targeting Western defense exports to assert dominance in the Indo‑Pacific.