China Used Embassies To Undermine Sales Of France’s Rafale Fighter Jet

China deployed its embassies to cast doubt on the performance of French-made Rafale fighter jets following their involvement in combat during the India-Pakistan clashes in May, according to French military and intelligence officials.

The effort focused on persuading countries that had already ordered the Rafale — notably Indonesia — to cancel or reduce purchases. I Photo: Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) Wikimedia Commons

The findings implicate Beijing in an effort to damage the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter, John Leicester reported for the Associated Press (AP).

A French intelligence report seen by AP indicates that defense attachés in Chinese embassies led a campaign to discourage further sales of Rafales.

The effort focused on persuading countries that had already ordered the jet — notably Indonesia — to cancel or reduce purchases, and on encouraging other potential buyers to opt instead for Chinese-made aircraft.

The findings were shared by a French military official on condition of anonymity, both for the official and the intelligence agency involved.

The four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May marked the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and involved extensive air combat, including dozens of aircraft on both sides.

Analysts have since been assessing the performance of Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied military equipment — particularly warplanes and air-to-air missiles — against Indian assets, including the French-made Rafale fighters used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets.

Rafale sales are a major component of France’s defense export strategy and support diplomatic and strategic engagement, particularly in Asia, where France competes with China’s growing regional influence.