The Indian Government on Wednesday made a bold move by banning the X (formerly Twitter) account of China’s state-owned media organization, Global Times. This move came after days of warnings and amidst increased India-Pakistan tensions and China’s fresh territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh.
Earlier on May 7, the Indian Embassy in Beijing openly warned Global Times about its unverified reporting. “Dear Global Times News, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the embassy tweeted on X.
(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
The embassy issued the warning after Global Times had echoed stories spread by various pro-Pakistan handles, most of which were reportedly spreading false information regarding India’s precision counter-terror strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Indian Embassy’s Stern Warning
The embassy also weighed in with a stern condemnation, “When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.”
At the same time, the Indian government also countered China’s long-standing and repeated efforts to assert Arunachal Pradesh as its territory. In a statement released on Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s stance, saying, “Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India.” He termed China’s claims as “vain and preposterous,” further escalating the diplomatic tension.
Notably, these moves came just days after Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat had a meeting with Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs in China’s foreign ministry. Although the official readout reported that the two “exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern,” the timing highlights increasing tensions in the region.
Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s Retaliation
The prohibition also arrives amid India’s retaliatory operations at light speed under Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26. Pakistan retaliated on May 8, 9, and 10, but did not cause any harm.
With Operation Sindoor and the government crackdown on online disinformation, India is not just strengthening its national security but also drawing a red line for foreign media trying to shape narratives.
