French intelligence: China used embassies to undermine sales of France’s flagship Rafale fighter jet
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Rain delays start to fifth day’s play in second Test between India and England – Telegraph India
The start of the fifth and final day’s play in the second Test was on Sunday delayed due to persistent rain here. India, who set England a mammoth target of 608 runs, have the game in complete grasp with the hosts left reeling at 72 for three at the close of play on Saturday.
India, who set England a mammoth target of 608 runs, have the game in complete grasp with the hosts left reeling at 72 for three at the close of play on Saturday.
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India need seven wickets to win while England, who haven’t shown any qualms in going for targets in fourth innings of Tests, need an inspired approach with the bat as they require another 536 runs to win.
Akash Deep took two wickets and Mohammed Siraj claimed one in the fourth innings to give India the breakthroughs on day four.
At the crease are England vice-captain Ollie Pope (24) and Harry Brook (15).
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
After India-Pakistan clashes, China spread disinformation about Rafale jets, French intel says
China used its embassies to sow doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale fighter jets after they were used in combat during the India-Pakistan clashes. The effort, aimed at harming the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter, was carried out through coordinated lobbying and disinformation, officials said. The four-day confrontation in May between India and Pakistan involved dozens of aircraft and marked the most serious escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals in years. Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes, including three Rafales. India acknowledged losses but did not disclose the number of aircraft shot down. French authorities say manipulated images, AI-generated content, and even video-game footage were used online to simulate damage to Rafale jets. Over 1,000 newly created social media accounts spread messages highlighting Chinese technological superiority, according to researchers who track online disinformation. France has since moved to defend the Rafale’s reputation amid what officials describe as a calculated disinformation campaign by Pakistan and its ally China.
China used its embassies to sow doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale fighter jets after they were used in combat during the India-Pakistan clashes in May, according to French military and intelligence officials. The effort, aimed at harming the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter, was carried out through coordinated lobbying and disinformation, officials said.
The Associated Press, citing a French intelligence service report, reported that it suggested defence attachés in Chinese embassies led efforts to dissuade countries– notably Indonesia– from buying additional Rafale jets, while urging potential buyers to consider Chinese-made aircraft instead.
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The four-day confrontation in May between India and Pakistan involved dozens of aircraft and marked the most serious escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals in years. French and Indian military officials have since reviewed the outcome closely, especially focusing on how Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied aircraft and missiles fared against India’s use of Rafales in precision airstrikes on Pakistani territory.
Rafale sales are a major component of France’s defence industry and play a critical role in the country’s efforts to build strategic partnerships, particularly in Asia, where China’s influence is growing.
Social media campaign and targeted diplomacy raise concerns
Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes, including three Rafales, prompting questions about the aircraft’s effectiveness from existing and prospective customers. India acknowledged losses but did not disclose the number of aircraft shot down. French air force chief Gen. Jérôme Bellanger said there was evidence of three losses: a Rafale, a Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000.
“Of course, all those, the nations that bought Rafales, asked themselves questions,” Bellanger said.
France has since moved to defend the Rafale’s reputation amid what officials describe as a calculated disinformation campaign by Pakistan and its ally China. French authorities say manipulated images, AI-generated content, and even video-game footage were used online to simulate damage to Rafale jets. Over 1,000 newly created social media accounts spread messages highlighting Chinese technological superiority, according to researchers who track online disinformation.
While French officials have not directly linked the online campaign to the Chinese government, the intelligence service reported that Chinese defence attachés reinforced the same anti-Rafale narrative during meetings with foreign defence officials. These attachés allegedly lobbied countries that had bought Rafales or were considering doing so, repeating claims about the jet’s poor performance in India.
Asked by AP about the allegations, China’s Ministry of National Defense said: “The relevant claims are pure groundless rumours 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.”
France’s Defence Ministry responded by acknowledging “a vast campaign of disinformation” that it said targeted the Rafale and aimed to promote Chinese alternatives. “The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theatre,” the ministry stated.
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The ministry also stressed the broader implications of the campaign: “By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base.”
Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafales, with 323 exported to countries including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and Indonesia. Indonesia, which has ordered 42 Rafales, is now reportedly re-evaluating its options.
Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said China could be leveraging Pakistan’s performance in the May clashes to damage Rafale’s export prospects. “They certainly saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region,” he said.
“From a point of view of limiting Western countries’ influence in the Indo-Pacific, it would make sense for China to be using the performance of Pakistani weapon systems — or at least purported performance — in downing at least one Rafale as a tool to undermine its attractiveness as an export,” Bronk added.
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With inputs from agencies
‘To discourage buyers’: How China used its embassies to undermine sales of Rafale after Operation Sindoor? French intelligence reveals
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 jet. 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, against buying more Rafales. Over 1,000 newly created social media accounts were involved in spreading a narrative of Chinese technological superiority. China’s Ministry of National Defense rejected the claim as “groundless and slander”
, which were used in the India-Pakistan clashes in May.
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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, against buying more Rafales, news agency The Associated Press reported. It cited 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,
not to buy more (Rafale), and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes,” the person said.
As per the unnamed intelligence agency, Chinese defense attaches focused their lobbying on nations which have ordered the Rafale, and other potential customers which are considering its purchase.
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 social media posts, 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.
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.
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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.
No return of Jofra Archer to second Test match against India, same XI for Edgbaston
Jofra Archer will not be making his much-awaited return to Test cricket in Birmingham. England named an unchanged squad for the second Test against India. Fast bowler Archer missed Monday’s training session at Edgbaston due to a family emergency. England have stuck with the side that secured a five-wicket win in the series opener at Headingley.
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Despite all the hype, Jofra Archer will not be making his much-awaited return to Test cricket in Birmingham. England named an unchanged squad for the second Test
of the five-match series against India.
Fast bowler Archer missed Monday’s training session at Edgbaston due to a family emergency. While Archer is expected to rejoin the squad on Tuesday, on the eve of the second Test beginning Wednesday, England have stuck with the side that secured a five-wicket win in the series opener at Headingley.
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There was speculation about Archer’s presence in the playing XI of the Edgbaston Test, which begins on Wednesday, after he was added to the squad last week. While
many thought Archer’s inclusion in the team might give England an edge, there were some who were against the idea, saying the pacer needed more time to be ready for the grind of Test cricket.
Archer, who has struggled with an elbow-related injury to his bowling arm over the last several years, last played in a Test more than four years ago, against India in Ahmedabad. He recently made his red-ball return in a County Championship match for Sussex.
As things stand, it looks like England will unleash Archer in the third Test, which will be played at Lord’s from July 10.