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Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
4 Chinese nationals held for photographing Rafale jets at Greek airbase
Four Chinese nationals were arrested in Greece for photographing French-made Rafale fighter jets and filming sensitive areas around the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and the 114th Combat Wing. Security personnel at the HAI reportedly noticed the group taking photos in restricted areas and asked them to leave. (Representational Image - X) Among those arrested are a woman, two men and a younger individual, all of whom are in police custody, India Today reported. Security personnel at the HAI reportedly noticed the group taking photos in restricted areas and asked them to leave. However, they continued filming from a nearby bridge, specifically capturing images of the Rafale jets stationed at the Tanagra airbase. Also Read | What Dassault said after report on CEO's response to Pakistan over Rafale jets The Hellenic Air Force Police swiftly intervened and detained the group after they ignored repeated warnings. The accused were handed over to local authorities in Tanagra, located northeast of Athens. As per initial information, a large cache of photographic material is now under forensic review. Greek security agencies are probing whether the incident was part of a larger intelligence-gathering operation. According to French military intelligence, the Rafale jet, which is already in use by nations like Egypt, Greece, India, and the United Arab Emirates, has been the focus of a global Chinese disinformation campaign at the time of this arrest. Also Read | How China targeted Rafale reputation after Operation Sindoor: French intel reveals One of the most sophisticated multirole fighter jets in the world is the Rafale, which was created by Dassault Aviation in France. After the Indian Air Force used it during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan earlier this year, it attracted a lot of attention from around the world. Chinese embassies allegedly launched a concerted disinformation campaign to disparage Rafale jets, particularly after India deployed them during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism that was responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack, according to an Associated Press report. The AP report, which cited French military and intelligence officials, claimed that Beijing used its foreign missions to influence existing and potential buyers of the Rafale, urging them to opt for Chinese-made alternatives instead.
India Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
4 Chinese arrested in Greece for clicking photos of Rafale jets, facilities
Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in Tanagra, Greece, for photographing Rafale fighter jets and filming Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) facilities. According to reports, one of the Chinese nationals arrested is a woman. They were spotted taking pictures of military facilities and were handed over to the police by the Hellenic Air Force Police.A high alert was cautioned after the four individuals of Chinese nationality were found photographing sensitive military installations in the area. As per the sources, their actions were deemed suspicious and raised concerns of espionage, as the images they captured reportedly included Rafale fighter four, including two men, a woman, and a young man, were initially noticed by the security personnel of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), who asked them to leave the area. However, they moved to a nearby bridge and continued taking photos of HAI facilities and the 114th Combat Wing, ignoring the warnings. The Air Force Police (Aeronomia) of the 114th Combat Wing was immediately informed. They intervened, located the individuals, and brought them in for questioning. The Chinese nationals were then handed over to the local police and taken to the Tanagra police information indicates that they were in possession of a significant amount of photographic material from the area. Authorities are currently investigating whether this was an isolated incident or part of a more systematic effort at intelligence gathering. The case is being handled with the utmost seriousness, and the evidence is already being evaluated by the appropriate security is notable that India and Greece share a significant military relationship. Recently Greece has participated in multiple Air and Naval exercises with India, including Tarang Shakti last year and INIOCHOS 25 this Indian Air Force has been using Rafale fighter jets in its operations, Operation Sindoor being the recent one where a lot has been talked about Rafale jets. China has been trying to undermine the performance of Rafale jets as claimed by France. The Chinese nationals who have been arrested in Greece were specifically gathering information about Rafale to a report by the Associated Press, Chinese embassies allegedly ran a coordinated disinformation campaign to discredit Rafale jets following their deployment by India during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in French military and intelligence officials, the report claims that Beijing used its foreign missions to influence existing and potential buyers of the Rafale, urging them to opt for Chinese-made alternatives intelligence sources cited by AP claim that Chinese embassy defence attachs approached officials from countries that have ordered or are considering purchasing these meetings, the Chinese officials allegedly argued that the Rafales used by the Indian Air Force performed poorly, while promoting Chinese-made weaponry as superior military officials said the campaign involved viral social media posts, AI-generated content, manipulated imagery portraying fake Rafale debris, and video game-style simulations to misrepresent combat 1,000 new social media accounts were reportedly created as the India-Pakistan conflict intensified, pushing narratives of Chinese technological Defence Ministry described the effort as "a vast campaign of disinformation" aimed at promoting the superiority of Chinese-designed defence systems."The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theatre," the ministry said on its ministry further stressed that the campaign went beyond targeting a fighter jet, saying, "By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships."Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafale jets so far, with 323 exported to several countries, including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and Indonesia. Indonesia alone has ordered 42 aircraft and is reportedly considering additional Chinese Ministry of National Defence has denied allegations that it attempted to undermine the global reputation and appeal of the French Rafale fighter media, Global Times, in a post on X, said that the Chinese defence ministry labelled the accusations as "pure groundless rumours and slander," the ministry reiterated China's commitment to a "prudent and responsible approach to military exports," and emphasised its role in promoting "regional and global peace and stability."The Chinese defence ministry, however, refuted the claims, saying that it develops defence equipment "to ensure its own security - not to become an 'arms dealer,' nor to elevate itself by belittling others."It also criticised certain Western politicians and media outlets for interpreting events "through a lens of confrontation," adding, "This arrogance, projecting their own mind-set onto others, ultimately reveals their own insecurity."- EndsMust Watch
