China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan’s clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter.
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.
Both sides are saving face, India lost some fighters more than one for sure. But no clarity, pakistan claims they downed five, BBC independently verified one, some US officials said two planes were shot down. However it’s unclear if they were downed by Chinese made fighters or not, maybe they were. India confirmed that “losses are part of defense action”. Couple other experts pointed it looked like crash due to air-to-air missiles (but experts are all anoynums and from western countries). The problem is there was so much disinformation in Indian media, Pakistani media and Chinese media around that time. It’s next to impossible to say how the Rafale was downed, but at least downed Rafale is confirmed.