🇫🇷🇨🇳 French intelligence services have accused China of orchestrating a diplomatic campaign through its embassies to discredit the Dassault Rafale fighter jet following the India-Pakistan aerial clashes in May 2025. According to the report, Beijing actively pushed narratives aimed at persuading potential buyers, including Indonesia, to reconsider Rafale acquisitions in favor of Chinese-made aircraft.
These alleged efforts are part of a broader Chinese strategy to boost the international appeal of its aviation industry. Specifically, China has promoted the J-10C as a proven air superiority fighter, claiming that it performed better than the Rafale during Pakistan’s engagements with Indian aircraft earlier this year.
The report highlights that this campaign is already bearing fruit. Iran is reportedly in talks with Beijing to procure the J-10C, citing its performance record and cost-effectiveness. China’s diplomatic outreach, combined with aggressive marketing, may signal a significant shift in fighter jet alliances among non-Western states.
French officials view this as a direct geopolitical and economic challenge, especially in regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where arms competition is intensifying.
