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.

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.

    • SebaDC@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      31·
      19 hours ago

      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.

    • plyth@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      18 hours ago

      Whataboutism can provide necessary context into whether or not a particular line of critique is relevant or fair. In international relations, behavior that may be imperfect by international standards may be quite good for a given geopolitical neighborhood and deserves to be recognized as such.

      In this case the neighborhood is the world.