A new US government report has exposed a large-scale Chinese disinformation campaign targeting India during Operation Sindoor, the Indian military response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC)—an advisory body to the US Congress—reveals that China used fake social media networks, AI-generated images, video-game clips, and coordinated propaganda to distort global perceptions of the India-Pakistan conflict.

China’s goal?
To undermine France’s Rafale jets, promote its own J-35 stealth fighters, and boost global sales of Chinese military technology.

Key Findings from the US Report

1. AI-Generated Images & Fake Jet Debris

China circulated fabricated photos, AI-made debris, and edited images claiming Indian Rafale jets were shot down.
None of these visuals were real.

2. Supporting Pakistan’s Narrative

The propaganda tried to show that Pakistani forces using Chinese weapons—including J-10C jets and PL-15 long-range missiles—had destroyed multiple Indian aircraft.

India has acknowledged “some losses” but has not released details due to the ongoing operation.

3. Target: Global Arms Market

China weaponised the conflict to:

• Discredit Rafale fighter jets
• Promote the J-35 and J-10C
• Influence countries like Indonesia, which is evaluating both Rafales and Chinese fighters

The US report states that Chinese embassies actively promoted these claims to woo international buyers.

4. Propaganda Ecosystem

The campaign used:

• AI-generated war imagery
• Deepfake visuals
• Fake accounts
• Video-game footage
• Coordinated “news” pages

All designed to muddy the factual record and create global confusion.

The Bigger Picture: China’s “Grey-Zone Warfare”

The report places this operation under China’s broader grey-zone tactics—non-military coercion using:

• Cyber warfare
• Narrative manipulation
• Information warfare
• Psychological operations (PSYOPS)

China was not a direct participant in the conflict but used the moment to showcase its weapons, boost defence exports, and shape global opinion.

Why Propaganda Is China’s Most Battle-Tested Weapon

China’s jets like the J-35, J-20, or carriers like Fujian have never seen real war.
But one Chinese weapon has been used repeatedly:

Propaganda.

From Taiwan to the South China Sea, from the US to India, China’s state-backed misinformation machinery has been Beijing’s most consistent tool of influence.

In May 2025, China deployed this at full scale, even though it was not part of the India-Pakistan clash.

The Rafale vs. J-35 Narrative Battle

Pakistan claimed it shot down six Indian jets, including Rafales, using Chinese weapons.
The US assessment says India may have lost three jets, and not all were Rafales.

China immediately amplified Pakistan’s claims, then used the same narrative to tell global buyers:

“Our systems downed India’s Rafales. Don’t buy French jets. Buy China’s J-35.”

Countries like Indonesia—which ordered 42 Rafales but is also exploring Chinese J-10C jets—became key targets of this pitch.

Why India Must Take This Seriously

None of this is surprising.
What is worrying is:

• The scale of China’s coordinated misinformation
• The speed of its AI-driven propaganda
• India’s lack of a real-time counter-disinformation strategy

India ended up relying on US and French intelligence reports to debunk Chinese claims.

This is a wake-up call.

India needs:

• Strong digital influence operations
• A dedicated information warfare command
• Rapid fact-checking pipelines
• Public communication of verified battlefield information

China is not going to stop.
India cannot wait for global allies to counter Beijing’s narratives.

Summary Table: China’s Disinformation Playbook – Operation Sindoor

Aspect	US Report Findings
Misinformation Tools	AI images, deepfakes, video-game clips, fake accounts
Core Narrative	Pakistan downed Rafales using Chinese weapons
Strategic Motive	Promote J-35 & J-10C; block Rafale sales
Broader Objective	Boost China’s defence exports & military prestige
Tactics	Grey-zone warfare, psychological ops, cyber propaganda

The US report shows how disinformation has become China’s most lethal and active weapon, far more battle-tested than any jet or missile.
In a future conflict, the first strike may not come from a missile—but from a manipulated narrative.

References

• Financial Express: US govt report: China ran disinformation campaign against Rafale jets, used fake debris images of Op Sindoor
  https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/all-may-not-have-been-rafales-us-govt-report-debunks-pakistans-claim-of-downsizing-6
• The Print: China ran disinfo campaign against Rafale jets post-Op Sindoor: US govt report
  https://theprint.in/diplomacy/china-ran-disinformation-campaign-to-hinder-sale-of-rafale-jets-post-op-sindoor-us-govt-report/278
• US Panel Accuses China of Disinformation After Operation Sindoor https://www.newsonair.gov.in/us-panel-accuses-china-of-disinformation-after-operation-sindoor/
• NDTV: China Masterminded “Disinformation Campaign” After Op Sindoor: US Body
  https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-masterminded-disinformation-campaign-after-op-sindoor-us-body-9659801
• NewsOnAir: US Panel Accuses China of Disinformation After Operation Sindoor
  https://www.newsonair.gov.in/us-panel-accuses-china-of-disinformation-after-operation-sindoor/