French military and intelligence officials said China used its embassies to spread doubt about the capabilities of French-made Rafale fighter jets after they were used in India and Pakistan’s May fighting.

The officials implicated China in an effort to harm the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter. China sought to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made jet, most notably Indonesia, not to buy more and to encourage other possible buyers to choose planes made by China, according to the Associated Press.