A recent report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission has claimed that China orchestrated a coordinated disinformation campaign against France’s Rafale fighter jets in the aftermath of the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. According to the report, the campaign employed “fake” social media accounts and AI-generated images to portray Rafale jets as ineffective, while simultaneously promoting China’s own J-35 fighter jets.

The report states that following the India-Pakistan border crisis in May 2025, China sought to undermine Rafale sales globally by leveraging the conflict to showcase its own weaponry. “Following the May 2025 India-Pakistan border crisis, China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder sales of French Rafale aircraft in favour of its own J-35s, using fake social media accounts to propagate AI images of supposed debris from the planes that China’s weaponry destroyed,” the report read.

This US assessment comes several months after French military and intelligence officials had already raised concerns over a similar disinformation drive targeting Rafale jets. Earlier, the Associated Press reported that Chinese defence attachés based in embassies were actively engaged in efforts to undermine Rafale sales internationally.

According to the US report, the campaign used sophisticated tactics including AI-generated visuals and video-game imagery, designed to simulate the destruction of Rafale aircraft by Chinese weapons. The campaign, the report said, “opportunistically leveraged” the India-Pakistan conflict to showcase China’s military hardware, while attempting to stall sales of Rafales in other regional markets.

The report also mentions specific impacts on international arms deals. For example, despite an ongoing Rafale deal, China reportedly convinced Indonesia to pause the purchase of French jets, thereby creating inroads for Chinese weapons in Southeast Asia and influencing regional military procurement decisions.

The report places the disinformation campaign within a broader context of China-Pakistan defence cooperation in the months leading up to the India-Pakistan conflict. Between November and December 2024, China and Pakistan conducted three-week Warrior-VIII counterterrorism drills, while the Chinese Navy participated in Pakistan’s multinational AMAN drills in February 2025. These exercises, according to the report, were part of a larger pattern of military collaboration aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s defence capabilities.

China also reportedly proposed significant arms sales to Pakistan following the May conflict. In June 2025, the US report states, China offered 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, KJ-500 early-warning aircraft, and ballistic missile defence systems to Islamabad. At the same time, Pakistan announced a 20% increase in its defence budget for 2025–2026, signaling a substantial augmentation of military expenditure in the region.

The report highlights that these efforts were part of China’s strategy to capitalize on regional tensions to expand its military influence and showcase its weaponry while limiting the market share of competing systems such as the Rafale jets.

The disinformation campaign comes against the backdrop of India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. During Operation Sindoor, Indian forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reportedly eliminating over 100 terrorists. The US report suggests that China sought to use the ensuing military engagement to question the effectiveness of Indian and French military assets while positioning its own systems as superior alternatives.

The report drew reactions from Indian political circles. BJP leader Amit Malviya, without naming specific individuals, questioned who had “amplified this Chinese narrative” during the conflict. He pointed out that Indian Air Force officials had confirmed that no operational assets were lost and cautioned against sharing operational details mid-conflict, as this could jeopardize national security.

The disinformation campaign highlights the growing role of information warfare in global defense markets. By blending AI-generated imagery, social media manipulation, and strategic narratives, China is alleged to have influenced international perceptions of military effectiveness to favor its own systems. The report underscores that such campaigns not only affect procurement decisions but also shape regional security dynamics, particularly in South Asia, where India and Pakistan remain in a tense military standoff.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, an advisory body to Congress, specifically noted the timing and opportunistic nature of China’s campaign. Leveraging a high-profile regional conflict, China reportedly sought to discredit Rafale aircraft while promoting the J-35s as a technologically superior alternative. This, the report suggested, was part of a broader strategy to expand China’s military export footprint and strengthen ties with Pakistan amid rising regional tensions.

In conclusion, the report paints a detailed picture of strategic disinformation employed by China to influence global defense markets and regional security perceptions. It situates the Rafale-related campaign within the context of broader military cooperation between China and Pakistan and underscores the potential impact of information warfare on international arms sales and geopolitical alignments.

The findings of the US report reinforce earlier French intelligence concerns and suggest that disinformation campaigns, particularly in times of armed conflict, are likely to become a recurring feature of modern military and defense strategy, with consequences for national security, arms procurement, and regional power dynamics.