Contradicting claims have spread online in recent days after a U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran amid the U.S.–Israeli conflict with the Iranian regime, with Chinese state media citing Iranian reports that the U.S. rescue mission had failed.
Just after midnight on April 5, U.S. President Donald Trump said the second crew member from a downed American F-15E fighter jet had been safely recovered, ending hours of uncertainty about the fate of the missing airman.
He said that the rescued officer was a "highly respected" colonel.
Chinese State Media Echo Iranian Claims
Despite Trump’s announcement, Chinese state media continued to circulate a starkly different account.On April 5, Xinhua News Agency published a report citing Iranian military sources who claimed the U.S. rescue mission had “failed.” According to those reports, multiple U.S. aircraft—including Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 transport plane—had been shot down during the operation.
Other Chinese media outlets, citing reports from China Central Television, went further, repeating an Iranian claim that U.S. forces, unable to locate the missing crew member, had attempted to bomb his suspected hiding place.
Questions About Credibility
The ongoing sharing of those claims—after Trump announced the rescue was successful—led to some backlash online, especially among Chinese-language users on X.Several commentators accused Chinese state media of spreading unverified or misleading information.
One user, @BoDiplo, questioned whether major Chinese outlets had “sunk to this level of shameless depravity.”
Another user, @Xianzhong_1953, wrote that Chinese state media appeared to be acting as “propagandists” for the Iranian regime, criticizing its lack of editorial standards.
A third commentator, @tig88411109, speculated on the message behind the Chinese regime’s actions.
“For those serving in China’s military, you have to wonder how they reflect on their future when they see news like this,” he wrote. “Because this is the real message coming from the [Chinese] military leadership and propaganda apparatus: If something happens to you on the ground, don’t expect me to rescue you—don’t make trouble for me.”