France says China used embassies to sow doubt about performance of Rafale fighter jet

French military and intelligence officials said China used its embassies to spread doubt about the capabilities of French-made Rafale fighter jets after they were used in India and Pakistan’s May fighting.

The officials implicated China in an effort to harm the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter. China sought to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made jet, most notably Indonesia, not to buy more and to encourage other possible buyers to choose planes made by China, according to the Associated Press. 

Military officials have been looking into how Pakistan’s Chinese-made military hardware performed against weapons that India used, including the French-made Rafales. Pakistan has claimed its air force brought down five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. India has acknowledged a

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