A French intelligence service says China has used its embassies to promote claims that Chinese-made Pakistani warplanes outperformed French Rafale jets during India-Pakistan clashes in May

China's Defence Ministry rejected claims that it tried to damage the Rafale jet's global image, calling them baseless and slanderous. It reaffirmed its commitment to responsible military exports.

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.