In a fresh report, the U.S. Congressional advisory body known as the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission said China orchestrated a disinformation campaign in a move it calls part of its “gray‑zone” strategy. The Commission claims China used fake social‑media profiles to spread AI‑generated images of what it called “debris” from aircraft, and that the campaign aimed to block sales of French Rafale jets in favor of China’s own J‑35 fighter.
The report cites Operation Sindoor—a counter‑attack by India in May on Pakistani “terror” sites that followed an April incident where 26 civilians were killed—in a case where Beijing leveraged the conflict to showcase its weapons technology. According to the Commission, China marketed its military systems as useful in the backdrop of India‑Pakistan tensions and its broader defense‑industry goals.
India’s Defense Minister announced in August that its air force had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor. The Indian government has highlighted growing border concerns with China, saying there is an imbalance in how the two sides address the longstanding border dispute. While China offers intermittent, well‑publicised talks that often end in “partial” agreements, India seeks a durable resolution.
The report noted that many recent “broad” talks between the two superpowers have remained largely conceptual, with few concrete follow‑ups. It also warned that the future succession of the Dalai Lama could become a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing for India.
In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pyongyang for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and met with President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin. Washington saw Modi’s trip as a way to keep options open after U.S. tariffs on Indian goods spiked at 50 percent. Since then, U.S.–India ties have steadied, and the first segment of a trade deal is expected soon.
Key themes in the commission’s report: U.S.‑China tension over technology and defense, India’s assertiveness on the border, the role of disinformation in military deals, and the complex web of India‑China relations amid broader U.S.–China rivalry.
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