New Delhi: India has blocked the X accounts of three state-run media organisations from China and Turkey on grounds of spreading misinformation amid tensions with Pakistan. The first to be withheld was the account of Global Times, China’s state-affiliated outlet. The handles of China’s official news agency Xinhua and Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT World were also subsequently blocked.
Xinhua News Agency serves as the official state media of the People’s Republic of China, while TRT World is the international branch of Turkey’s public broadcaster.
In China’s case, the move followed a spike in false reports on social media platforms, and claims that an Indian Rafale fighter jet had been shot down near Bahawalpur. India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit quickly refuted the report, clarifying that the accompanying image was actually from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab’s Moga district.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing issued a strong rebuke to Global Times, urging the outlet to verify information before publishing stories on sensitive defence matters. The warning came in the wake of a 7 May Global Times report suggesting that a third Indian fighter jet had been shot down by Pakistan.
“Dear @GlobalTimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the Indian Embassy wrote in a post on X. In a follow-up message, it added, “Several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading baseless claims in the context of #OperationSindoor, attempting to mislead the public. When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.”
(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 move to block TRT World’s handle on X also comes amid a growing trend within India to boycott Turkish goods and avoid Turkey as a travel destination. This shift follows the launch of Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s drone and missile attacks on Indian territory.
India’s blocking of the three accounts marks a significant diplomatic signal, as well as a tightening of information control during ongoing military tensions.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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