The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission's (USCC) 2025 Annual Report to Congress, released on November 18, 2025, examines China's military advancements, defense exports, and influence operations. 

A dedicated section analyzes the May 2025 India-Pakistan border clash— Operation Sindoor—as a real-world testbed for Chinese weaponry and a launchpad for Beijing's disinformation efforts. The report highlights how China exploited the four-day conflict (May 7–10, 2025) to promote its arms sales while undermining competitors, particularly France's Rafale fighter jets used by India.

China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder sales of French Rafales in favor of its own J-35s. Used fake social media accounts to propagate AI and video game images of supposed “debris” from the planes China’s weaponry destroyed. Only three jets flown by India’s military were reportedly downed, and all may not have been Rafales.

Operation Sindoor real-world testbed for Chinese weaponry and a launchpad for a disinformation campaign. China exploited conflict to promote its arms sales and undermine competitors. China used Operation Sindoor as real-world field experiment. First time, China’s modern weapons systems, including the HQ-9 air defense system, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, and J-10 fighter aircraft, were used in active combat.

China offered to sell 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, KJ-500 aircraft, and ballistic missile defense systems to Pakistan in June 2025. Post-conflict, Chinese embassies hailed successes of its systems in Operation Sindoor, to bolster weapons sales. Pakistan’s use of Chinese weapons to down French Rafale fighter jets used by India also became selling point for Chinese weapons sales.

Chinese Embassy officials convinced Indonesia to halt purchase of Rafale jets. Episode underscores China's evolving "three warfares" doctrine—public opinion, psychological, and legal warfare—in regional conflicts.

Sandeep Unnithan

Veteran journalist with 30+ years in media, Sandeep Unnithan is a national security expert and author of two acclaimed books, including Black Tornado, adapted into the web series State of Siege.