PARIS — Pierre-Henri Chuet, a former French Navy fighter pilot, is under formal judicial investigation following his arrest by France’s domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, on charges of spying for China.
The high-profile arrest follows a string of controversial public statements made by Chuet last year regarding a South Asian military conflict, which investigators now believe may have been tied to a broader foreign influence operation.
The Espionage Charges
According to investigative reports from French outlets Le Canard Enchaîné and Mediapart, Chuet faces four severe national security charges:
- Compromising National Defence: Illegally sharing classified state secrets with a foreign entity.
- Intellectual Intelligence Trafficking: Collecting information detrimental to France's fundamental national interests.
- Foreign Cooperation: Working alongside a foreign power to undermine domestic security.
Chuet, a dual French-Canadian national, was detained, his home was searched, and he was later released under strict judicial supervision while the investigation proceeds. He has denied all espionage allegations, maintaining that his interactions with Chinese entities were strictly limited to standard civilian aviation seminars.
Secret Trips and Pilot Training
The core of the DGSI's case centers on Chuet's activities while he was still an active-duty pilot in France's naval aviation branch.
French prosecutors allege that Chuet made at least two undeclared trips to China in September 2018 and August 2019. During these visits, he reportedly organized tactical and operational training sessions for Chinese military pilots.
Investigators state that these training sessions were arranged through a South African aviation academy. Western intelligence agencies have frequently warned that such third-party firms are used by Beijing to bypass international laws and recruit retired NATO pilots to train the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The "Operation Sindoor" Disinformation Campaign
The espionage investigation sheds new light on Chuet's controversial media appearances in May 2025. During the brief border escalation between India and Pakistan known as "Operation Sindoor," Chuet claimed that the Indian Air Force had lost several of its French-made Dassault Rafale fighter jets. He heavily praised Chinese-manufactured J-10C and JF-17 jets operated by Pakistan, labeling them "Rafale killers."
His claims were immediately and fiercely rejected by both Indian defense officials and Eric Trappier, the CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Subsequent investigations by European security researchers revealed that Chuet's claims were amplified by a coordinated Chinese psychological warfare campaign. Over 1,000 automated and fake social media profiles were deployed to weaponize Chuet's statements, aiming to damage the global reputation of French defense technology and boost the marketability of Chinese military hardware.
French judicial authorities have stated that the investigation remains active as they trace the financial trails and potential information leaks originating from Chuet's tenure in the French military.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.