A new US report has revealed that after the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, China launched a full-fledged disinformation campaign to sabotage the sale of French Rafale jets
and promote its own J-35s—using fake social-media accounts and AI-generated images of fabricated “Rafale debris.”
BJP leader Amit Malviya now throws up a few questions :::
"But here’s the real question ... Who in India eagerly amplified this Chinese narrative?
"Who kept demanding “numbers” on jets lost—even after the Indian Air Force clearly stated that all its assets were intact, and that sharing operational details mid-conflict would jeopardize national security?
The US report to Congress of 'US-China Security Review Commission' has stated that - "Following the May 2025 India-Pakistan border crisis, China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder sales of French Rafale aircraft .....
In its annual report to the US Congress, the Commission alleged that China used fake social media accounts to circulate AI-generated images claiming to show debris of aircraft allegedly shot down by Chinese weaponry.
It stated that these activities were part of China's Gray Zone tactics aimed at undermining the sale of French Rafale jets in favour of its own J-35 combat aircraft.
The Commission said, "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."
It also claimed that China took advantage of the India-Pakistan conflict in May to promote the strength of its defence capabilities, linking it to Beijing’s wider military and industrial ambitions.
China-India border tensions highlighted
The Commission's report also examined India-China relations, stressing a persistent imbalance in how both sides approach the border issue.
According to the findings, "China leverages high-level, well-publicised dialogues to reach partial resolutions, hoping to open the door for bilateral cooperation on trade and other areas by compartmentalising the border issue without sacrificing its core interests."
It added that India, on the other hand, seeks a long-term and dependable solution to the boundary problem.
The report emphasised that India has become increasingly aware of the seriousness of China's actions at the border.
It noted that existing agreements on economic cooperation and boundary management remain largely theoretical, with minimal clarity on implementation. The Commission also suggested that the future succession of the Dalai Lama could trigger friction between the two countries.
Geopolitical ripples :
The report further observed that India's recent diplomatic engagements have raised questions globally. After several rounds of meetings with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the country in August for the SCO Summit where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Analysts in Washington interpreted this as India hedging its position following strained ties with the United States over the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs.
On May 7, India had launched Operation Sindoor after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in April that claimed 26 civilian lives.
The operation targeted terror infrastructure and military assets inside Pakistan.
In August, Indian Air Force Chief AP Singh confirmed that Indian forces had taken down five Pakistani fighter jets along with a major airborne surveillance aircraft during the strikes.
Notably on multiple occasions, the Congress party had sought answers from the Centre and defence forces to clarify how many Indian jets were downed during Operation Sindoor.
Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi had said in June -
"There are just 35 Rafale fighter jets in the country and if some have been downed, it is a big loss".
ends
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