'To discourage buyers': French intelligence says China ran anti-Rafale online campaign; Beijing denies
French military and intelligence officials have concluded that China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of the premium French-made Rafale fighter jets , which were used in the India-Pakistan clashes in May.
Defense attaches in China's foreign embassies led the charge to undermine the Rafale, seeking to persuade the countries which have already ordered the European nation's flagship fighter, news agency The Associated Press reported, citing a French security official who shared the findings on the condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named.
"The idea was to convince the buyers, notably Indonesia, not to buy more (Rafale), and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes," the person said.
According to officials in France, which, like China, is among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Beijing's anti-Rafale campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content, and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat.
Over 1,000 newly created social media accounts were involved in spreading a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation.
As per the unnamed French intelligence agency, the Chinese defense attaches focused their lobbying on countries which have ordered the Rafale, and other potential customer-nations which are considering its purchase.
However, China's Ministry of National Defense rejected the claim as "groundless and slander."
“The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability," it told AP.
Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for the France's defense industry, and help efforts by Paris to strengthen its ties with other nations, including in Asia where Beijing seeks to become the dominant regional power.
Rafale-maker Dassault Aviation has sold 533 units of the fighter jet,including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. The latest buyer, Indonesia, has ordered 42 units, and is considering buying more.
Defense attaches in China's foreign embassies led the charge to undermine the Rafale, seeking to persuade the countries which have already ordered the European nation's flagship fighter, news agency The Associated Press reported, citing a French security official who shared the findings on the condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named.
"The idea was to convince the buyers, notably Indonesia, not to buy more (Rafale), and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes," the person said.
According to officials in France, which, like China, is among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Beijing's anti-Rafale campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content, and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat.
Over 1,000 newly created social media accounts were involved in spreading a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation.
As per the unnamed French intelligence agency, the Chinese defense attaches focused their lobbying on countries which have ordered the Rafale, and other potential customer-nations which are considering its purchase.
However, China's Ministry of National Defense rejected the claim as "groundless and slander."
“The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability," it told AP.
Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for the France's defense industry, and help efforts by Paris to strengthen its ties with other nations, including in Asia where Beijing seeks to become the dominant regional power.
Rafale-maker Dassault Aviation has sold 533 units of the fighter jet,including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. The latest buyer, Indonesia, has ordered 42 units, and is considering buying more.
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