France's Defense Ministry said the Rafale was targeted by “a vast campaign of disinformation" that “sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design.”

To hammer the Rafale fighter jets' reputation, China's foreign missions sought to persuade countries that ordered the French-made fighter not to buy them and encourage others to go for Chinese-made planes.

French officials say they have found that the Chinese embassies are trying to undermine Rafale sales by persuading countries that have already ordered the jets, notably Indonesia, not to buy them and instead choose Chinese-made fighters.