Findings from a French intelligence service seen by The Associated Press say defense attaches in China’s foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named.
Add: I don’t think the ploy worked, as in 2025 Indonesia ordered more Rafales and subs from France.
Isn’t that precisely one function of embassies? As in, the way Europeans have been using them to expand economically for centuries?
This is not just economic, but also defense related. As in whoever supplies the jets, can withhold spare parts and ammunition deliveries. That obviously is strong leverage.
Sure.
Ah yes, the “Europe was a cunt in the past so now everyone gets to be a cunt” card. Classic.
This is also done today, but more importantly: Why does it make anybody a cunt? Embassies are meant to promote one countries interest in another country. Military sales are certainly part of that. They do not seem to have bribed anybody or something like that, otherwise it would be part of the article.
Ah! Yes! Europeans totally stopped doing it. Wink wink.
Total gets juicy contracts in Africa and Latam, just because they are the best. Wink wink.
Back to China. It’s more like “we, Europeans, made the rules of the game. Stop beating us at it! 😭”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
Yeah… So?
What China is doing is literally the game.
People who criticize whey China did, don’t seem to understand what Realpolitik is 🤦🏻♂️
I’m the 1st one to criticize China. But for things like genocide, persecution, etc.
In this case the neighborhood is the world.