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The Print
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
China's information war against Rafale
The claims, however, align with a broader trend of anti-Rafale sentiment across Chinese digital platforms, where the fighter aircraft is frequently described as 'outdated, overpriced, and ill-suited' for contemporary combat, especially since Operation Sindoor. On Weibo, a Phoenix TV post suggested that Rafale's performance may force a re-evaluation of its global combat reputation. One user claimed that the jet had left many countries disillusioned with Western military technology, prompting renewed interest in Chinese options. French military intelligence recently disclosed to Associated Press that Chinese defence attachés have been attempting to undermine Rafale sales by pressuring countries like Indonesia to reconsider their procurement plans in favour of Chinese-made alternatives. The Chinese strategic community and online commentators have dismissed this as 'yet another coordinated smear campaign against the country's diplomacy'. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Chinese disinformation has become a key instrument in shaping not only the India-Pakistan narrative but also global perceptions of the French military-industrial complex. For China, this is about more than regional rivalry; it is about asserting itself as a credible arms supplier in a market long dominated by the West. A recurring line in Chinese discourse is that 'India's Rafale cannot compete with China's J-10C.' 'After being smashed in the India-Pakistan air battle, Rafale's image crumbled, and France blamed China to save face,' read one such comment. Another argued that even the most advanced jets are ineffective without integrated combat systems—something China claims to possess while France doesn't. Rafale vs J-10CEs In China, a dominant narrative is that during the 7 May aerial clashes, India's Rafales were decisively outmatched by Pakistan's J-10CEs. The supposed shortcomings of Rafale noted by Chinese commentators include limited radar range, shorter missile reach, sluggish electronic countermeasures, and lower agility. Some Chinese commentators argued that even experienced Western pilots could not have turned the tide. Beyond combat performance, Chinese commentary portrayed Rafale as maintenance-heavy, logistically burdensome, and poorly integrated with India's mixed fleet. Li Jie, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, argued that Rafale's recent showing would likely prompt prospective buyers to reassess its value. Some Chinese critiques portray the entire French defence industry as outdated and overpriced, trailing China in areas such as engine development, nuclear capability, and aerospace technology. According to this view, France is shifting the blame for Rafale's failings onto Indian pilots in order to deflect attention from deeper design flaws. Some even claim that France may struggle to stay competitive in civil aviation within a decade. Also read: Why is South Asia strategic studies declining in US? All alignment, no depth China's opportunity In Chinese discourse, France's focus on alleged Chinese interference is being portrayed as a diversion and a sign of desperation. Commentators view this as a turning point for China's defence industry. A suspected Rafale crash in Egypt is being cited as further evidence of the aircraft's high maintenance demands. Chinese reports claim Egypt is now favouring the J-10CE for its affordability, proven combat record, and rapid delivery. Wang Mingliang, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences, said the engagement speed is crucial, noting that while the Pakistani Air Force takes just 12 seconds to complete its 'kill chain'—from detecting a target to engaging and neutralising it—the Indian Air Force takes 30 seconds. He also declared that Indonesia's defence ministry is reassessing its $8.1 billion Rafale deal and requesting additional technical verification from France. Also read: Iran-Israel need win-win solutions, not jingoistic brinkmanship Unfailing optimism Following the 2025 Paris Air Show, Chinese analysts are struggling to make sense of the low sales of J-35s as compared to Rafale and American F-35. A Chinese analyst lamented that despite its tarnished combat record, Rafale secured new orders, while China's advanced J-35, having impressed the crowds, failed to sell. This highlights that arms procurement depends on more than technology; political alliances, logistical support, and training ecosystems heavily influence decisions, the analyst wrote. A viral post on Weibo summed it up: 'Buying the F-35 is protection money to the US; buying Rafale joins the EU's circle of friends. China offers arms without strings but also without political protection. China's non-alignment policy limits its appeal in markets where geopolitical cover is as crucial as military hardware.' Nevertheless, the Paris disappointment is being viewed as a transitional phase—a gradual but inevitable rebalancing of the global arms trade. As China expands defence partnerships and broadens its network, it is said, these barriers will diminish. The broader opinion remains that once Chinese arms shed their geopolitical liability, their uptake will reshape the global defence market and China will emerge as the undisputed winner. Sana Hashmi is fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. She tweets @sanahashmi1. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
China's zero-carbon industrial parks light way to greener future
Photo shows a charging station powered by the solar array at an industrial park in Liyang, a county-level city under Changzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province on April 17, 2025. – Xinhua photo NANJING (May 1): Along a nearly-500-meter asphalt road shaded by a glimmering canopy of photovoltaic panels, new energy vehicles travel back and forth. Some pull over at the roadside charging station powered by the solar array. This eco-friendly scene, especially fitting on April 22, the 56th Earth Day, is part of a broader zero-carbon initiative at a 100-hectare industrial park in Liyang, a county-level city under Changzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province. Since beginning operations in June last year, the park has installed around 77,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels, generating 5.2 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually. To achieve net-zero carbon emissions, the park is diversifying its clean energy sources to include wind and hydro power, according to Li Jie, general manager of State Grid Liyang Electric Vehicle Service Company, one of the park's key developers. Carbon-free industrial parks aim to achieve zero carbon emissions by integrating clean energy, green architecture, smart management systems and circular economy practices. China's Central Economic Work Conference, which outlined the national priorities for 2025, called for ramped-up efforts to promote a green transition across all sectors, including the establishment of a group of zero-carbon industrial parks. According to Wu Wei, an associate professor at the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, such parks not only drive low-carbon development but also enhance enterprises' innovation capability, energy efficiency and informatisation level, serving as a key engine for China's high-quality economic growth. Zero-carbon practices power ahead According to the city's action plan, Changzhou aims to build more than 10 near-zero-carbon parks and more than 15 near-zero-carbon factories from 2024 to 2026. Among the pioneers in this plan is Nari-Relays Electric (NR Electric), a local power electronics company. By leveraging AI and cloud computing to monitor and optimise energy use in real time — from water and electricity consumption to photovoltaic output and environmental conditions — the company has cut over 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and saved nearly 7,300 tonnes of standard coal since 2023. Thanks to these efforts, the cost reduction and efficiency improvement have saved NR Electric nearly 20 million yuan (about US$2.77 million), according to the company. As microgrids are a cornerstone of zero-carbon parks' operation, Changzhou has completed 39 microgrid projects with a total investment of 1.18 billion yuan and plans to construct more such projects in the coming years. An aerial drone photo taken on March 16, 2025 shows the photovoltaic devices on the roof of the BFA International Conference Center and a BFA hotel in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. – Xinhua photo Beyond Changzhou, moves to go carbon-free are gaining momentum across China. In 2022, Shanghai released an action plan for a zero-carbon demonstration park in its Minhang District. In 2024, a plan was unveiled to build a zero-carbon park in Beijing's Daxing District. Provinces and regions like Guangxi, Yunnan and Fujian have included zero-carbon park construction in their 2025 government work reports. China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060. With the advancement of the dual carbon goals, it is expected to see a surge in zero-carbon parks in 2025, said Ding Hong, vice president of Jiangsu's provincial society of the urban economy. 'Advances in distributed solar photovoltaics, energy storage and smart energy management platforms will significantly lower costs of zero-carbon parks' construction and operation, and profoundly change China's energy utilization mode,' Ding said. Low-carbon innovations go global In Jiangsu's Suzhou Industrial Park, a joint China-Singapore zero-energy building fitted with rooftop photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines and an AI-controlled lighting and climate system showcases the possibilities of future urban architecture. Built using sustainable materials, the structure is part of the China-Singapore Green Digital Hub, a 6.7-billion-yuan project launched last November to boost green industries and emerging services. According to Li Wenjie, deputy director of the institute of urban development at Suzhou Industrial Park, the zero-energy building has been certified by standards organisations in both the United States and Singapore. 'This highlights that China's carbon reduction technologies have gained worldwide recognition,' he noted. Photo taken on July 13, 2024 shows a joint China-Singapore zero-energy building in Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. – Xinhua photo China's green technologies are now reaching global markets. NR Electric, for example, has provided energy storage solutions to over 30 countries, including Britain, Japan and Saudi Arabia. At Britain's Richborough Energy Park, its technology has helped reduce carbon emissions by over 10,000 tonnes — the greatest reduction among all battery energy-storage projects in the country in 2024. Currently, China is collaborating on green energy projects with over 100 countries and regions. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the average global cost per megawatt-hour for wind power has plummeted over the last decade by over 60 per cent, and by 80 per cent for solar power. China has made remarkable progress in its green transition and technologies, said Erik Berglof, chief economist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, during this year's Boao Forum for Asia held in late March. He noted that its journey offers a blueprint for sustainable development that other countries can follow. – Xinhua China green industrial parks sustainable Xinhua zero-carbon
