China has been accused by a US congressional commission of employing artificial intelligence to generate fake images and spread disinformation online, specifically to influence international defense sales. According to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s annual report, the campaign aimed to discredit the French Rafale fighter jet and promote China’s indigenous J-35 aircraft. This alleged operation intensified following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The commission detailed how China leveraged social media platforms, disseminating AI-generated visuals purporting to show the destruction caused by Chinese weaponry. This strategic move occurred around the time of India’s counter-terrorism operations against Pakistan. The report characterizes these actions as a component of China’s ‘Gray Zone’ tactics, designed to serve its wider military and industrial objectives. Beijing’s intent was to capitalize on regional conflicts to showcase its defense prowess.
India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a response to a deadly terror attack, leading to strikes against terror infrastructure within Pakistan. The Indian Air Force later confirmed significant Pakistani military assets were neutralized. The report also addresses the ongoing complexities of India-China border relations. It points out China’s preference for segmented dialogues to foster trade, while India seeks a more definitive resolution to territorial disputes. The effectiveness of current border management pacts is questioned due to a lack of concrete implementation. The potential impact of the Dalai Lama’s succession on bilateral relations is also flagged as a future concern.