India Blocks Chinese State Media on X Amid Disinformation Campaign Following ‘Operation Sindoor’
New Delhi, May 14, 2025 (IANS) – In a decisive move against the spread of disinformation and propaganda, India blocked the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Chinese state-run media outlets, Global Times and Xinhua News Agency, on Wednesday. This action follows a surge of false narratives and inflammatory content disseminated by these outlets during and after Pakistan’s retaliatory attacks in response to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’. The operation, a series of precision strikes targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was launched by India on April 26th, 2025, as a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22nd, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) spearheaded the blocking of the accounts, citing concerns related to national security and public order. Officials confirmed that both Global Times and Xinhua, known for their close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), actively amplified false claims and misleading narratives. One prominent example of such disinformation was the viral spread of a fabricated story claiming the downing of an Indian Rafale fighter jet near Bahawalpur, a claim promptly debunked by Indian authorities.
Prior to the account suspension, the Indian Embassy in China had issued a public warning to Global Times on X, urging the outlet to exercise responsible journalism and verify its sources before disseminating information. The Embassy criticized the outlet for spreading disinformation and highlighted the serious lapse in journalistic ethics demonstrated by sharing unverified information. They emphasized that the circulation of baseless claims by pro-Pakistan handles, further amplified by media outlets without proper verification, constituted a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The disinformation campaign surrounding the alleged downing of the Rafale jet involved the recirculation of an image from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab’s Moga district. This tactic of using old, unrelated images to fuel false narratives was flagged by the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check division, warning the public to be wary of such misleading content being shared by pro-Pakistan handles. The PIB’s intervention underscored the coordinated effort to counter the spread of disinformation and ensure accurate information reached the public.
The decision to block the Chinese state media accounts marks a significant escalation in India’s response to the disinformation campaign. The move comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following ‘Operation Sindoor’, and underscores the Indian government’s determination to combat the spread of false narratives that could further inflame the situation. It highlights the growing concern over the use of social media platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation, particularly during times of geopolitical conflict.
The timing of the account suspensions also points to a potential link between the Chinese state media’s actions and the broader geopolitical landscape. The amplification of Pakistani narratives by CCP-affiliated outlets suggests a coordinated effort to undermine India’s position and create confusion regarding the events surrounding ‘Operation Sindoor’. By blocking these accounts, India sends a clear message about its intolerance for foreign interference in its internal affairs and its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region. The move signifies a proactive approach by India to safeguard its national security and counter disinformation campaigns that threaten to destabilize the region. This action also represents a decisive step in holding foreign state-sponsored media outlets accountable for their role in spreading propaganda and false narratives. It remains to be seen how China will respond to India’s actions and what the long-term implications will be for India-China relations in the digital sphere.