New Delhi: India has blocked access to Chinese state-run outlet Global Times after the publication pushed fake news related to recent Indian military operations. The move comes days after Global Times falsely claimed that Pakistan had shot down Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, sparking outrage on social media and a sharp response from Indian authorities.
The disinformation campaign by Global Times appears to have crossed a red line. For years, the platform has been criticised for spreading anti-India narratives, but this time, the backlash was swift and official. The Indian Embassy in Beijing called out the publication for circulating baseless reports and advised it to verify facts before publishing such “dis-information”.
(1/n) Dear @globaltimesnews , we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of dis-information. https://t.co/xMvN6hmrhe
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) May 7, 2025
Embassy hits back over false claims
On May 7, Global Times cited unnamed “Pakistani military sources” and claimed that Pakistan had shot down three Indian jets. The article quoted China’s Xinhua news agency, suggesting the story had legitimacy. But Indian officials quickly rubbished the claims. The Indian embassy in Beijing posted multiple clarifications on X, calling the report factually incorrect and part of a coordinated propaganda attempt.
“Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of dis-information,” one post read.
The embassy also flagged instances of old images of crashed Indian Air Force jets being recirculated on social media to push the narrative further, including a MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan in 2024 and a MiG-21 crash in Punjab in 2021.
(4/n) Allow us to bring to your knowledge facts of the issue.
On April 22, 2025, Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a savage terror attack on Indian tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir in India.
They targeted a particular… pic.twitter.com/MhrnpS0Oc9
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) May 7, 2025
Context: Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor
The backdrop to this propaganda push is the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Armed terrorists linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba targeted Indian tourists, killing 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. The attackers reportedly asked victims to identify themselves by religion before executing them at close range.
India responded with military strikes under Operation Sindoor. These were described as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible” actions aimed at dismantling cross-border terrorist infrastructure. The Indian embassy also noted that the terror group The Resistance Front had claimed responsibility, and said it had long informed the UN about the group’s links to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
China media’s credibility under scanner
India’s decision to block Global Times comes amid increasing scrutiny of foreign media spreading false narratives. This incident highlights how misinformation can escalate tensions in already sensitive regions. The move also signals India’s growing willingness to push back diplomatically and digitally when it comes to foreign propaganda.
