Warning: this story contains content that may offend some readers.
A viral video mocking India over reports that its Rafale fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10C aircraft has sparked controversy on Chinese social media.
Titled "The planes just bought got shot down", the video features four Chinese men dancing to a remix of the Indian pop classic Tunak Tunak Tun, wearing Indian-style costumes and toy aircraft on their heads while imitating Indian accents.
The parody, created by popular Chinese influencer "Brother Hao" and widely criticised as racist and nationalistic, has racked up more than 3 million likes on Douyin, China's domestic version of TikTok.
Online commenters said the video boosted Brother Hao's follower numbers, which now stands at about 16 million.
The video was also reposted by Pakistan's Defence Ministry on X (formerly Twitter), where it attracted more than 1 million likes.
Indian social media users and commentators condemned the video's racist and nationalistic undertones — particularly its use of brownface and exaggerated Indian accents.
Many viewed the parody as not only deeply offensive, but a deliberate attempt to mock India's military and undermine national pride.
India's Press Information Bureau also rejected the claims promoted alongside the video, describing them as part of a "coordinated propaganda campaign" by the Chinese government.
It said images used to support the alleged downing of Indian jets were unrelated to recent events.
The video gained traction as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan.
India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire last weekend following four days of missile strikes across the border.
Pakistan claimed it had shot down three Rafale jets purchased by India from France, using Chinese-made J-10C fighters.
According to Reuters, anonymous US government sources said it was highly likely that at least one Indian aircraft was downed by a J-10C during the exchange.
India has not acknowledged any loss of aircraft and instead reported shooting down Pakistani-owned F-16s.
While the downing of Indian jets by Chinese fighters remains unconfirmed, Chinese influencers celebrated the claim with enthusiasm.
Despite being widely condemned as racially offensive, the video remained uncensored on Chinese platforms — reflecting a 2023 Human Rights Watch finding that racist content often escapes moderation, even as political dissent is tightly controlled.
The ABC has contacted Douyin's mother company Bytedance for comment about the video's circulation and content moderation policies.
'Nationalism played a key role'
China and Pakistan share a long-standing strategic partnership, often described as "iron brothers" by both governments.
Beijing has been one of Islamabad's most reliable arms suppliers, with military cooperation deepening through joint exercises, shared security interests, and major arms deals — including the export of advanced J-10C fighter jets.
The J-10C, a domestically produced multi-role combat aircraft, is widely seen in China as a symbol of the country's growing military self-sufficiency and technological advancement.
If confirmed, it would mark the first time the J-10 fighter and its PL-15 missile have been used in active combat.
For many Chinese netizens, especially nationalist-leaning influencers, the idea of a Chinese-made jet outperforming a high-end French Rafale has become a source of national pride — amplified through viral content and patriotic memes.
These narratives align with Beijing's broader efforts to build confidence in its domestic defence industry and project China as a global power no longer reliant on Western technology.
Edward Chan, a postdoctoral fellow in China Studies at the Australian National University, said nationalism played a significant role in driving the video's popularity.
"[They] see it as a win for China's defence industry over Western technology," Dr Chan told the ABC.
"It's likely that China is watching the India-Pakistan conflict closely.
"Pakistan's extensive use of Chinese-made weapons in the conflict suggests that China may be growing more confident in its domestically produced military systems."
'Border tensions and racial bias'
Brother Hao's earlier videos have often featured parody songs with adapted lyrics and exaggerated visual stereotypes.
Several of them have been criticised as racially charged — including performances featuring brownface, with actors dressed in Indian or Arab costumes, using exaggerated accents and stereotypical gestures for comic effect.
The same song used in the viral parody — a remix of Tunak Tunak Tun — has also been picked up by other Chinese and Pakistani content creators to mock the Indian Air Force, often reinforcing demeaning portrayals of Indian people.
Racial caricatures of Indians are common in parts of Chinese online culture, where depictions of Indians as poor, uncivilised or obsessed with curry have circulated widely in memes, comedy sketches, and nationalist commentary.
These stereotypes are rarely moderated by Chinese social media platforms and are often tolerated — or even encouraged — when they align with nationalist narratives.
Dr Chan said that long-standing China–India border tensions and racial bias have both contributed to the viral appeal of the video.
China, India and Pakistan share sensitive and contested borders — and all three are nuclear-armed powers.
Beijing and New Delhi reached a deal last October to ease patrols along their disputed frontier, following a four-year military stand-off that began with deadly clashes in 2020, which left 20 soldiers dead.
Dr Chan said the rise of such content reflects broader state-driven narratives.
"There are many nationalist videos circulating on platforms like TikTok and RedNote, which align with the broader Chinese Communist Party narrative of 'national rejuvenation'," Dr Chan said.
"These videos often frame China as superior to the West or the rest of the world — whether in its COVID-19 response, Olympic achievements, foreign aid, or technological advances."
