India: India has blocked access to several Chinese state media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), including Xinhua News Agency and the Global Times, in a move reportedly linked to allegations of spreading Pakistani propaganda and misinformation during recent cross-border clashes. Turkish broadcaster TRT World was also blocked.
The action follows India’s protest over China’s decision to rename several locations in the contested border state of Arunachal Pradesh, referred to by Beijing as Zangnan. The Indian government described the move as vain and preposterous, reaffirming that the territory remains an integral and inalienable part of India.
While the Global Times’ X account was later restored, reportedly after a legal appeal, other media outlets remain inaccessible. It’s unclear if the bans are part of a broader crackdown. India has blocked thousands of social media accounts, including some belonging to reputable journalists and outlets, drawing criticism from press freedom watchdogs.
The digital censorship comes with the most serious military exchange between India and Pakistan in decades. Reports from both sides have been marked by conflicting narratives and rampant unverified information. Chinese media had widely reported on Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian warplanes, claims strongly denied by India. The Indian embassy in Beijing accused the Global Times of spreading disinformation.
China, a close strategic ally of Pakistan, has called for restraint but is perceived by Indian officials to have taken Islamabad’s side, especially due to its supply of weapons, including the fighter jets reportedly used in the recent skirmishes.
The move to restrict foreign state-backed media adds a new layer to India’s information policy during national security crises. Although X is banned within China, its state media uses the platform to broadcast narratives globally.
India’s relations with both Pakistan and China remain tense, not just due to the recent hostilities with Islamabad but also because of the long-running Himalayan border dispute with Beijing. A deadly clash in 2020 resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and at least 4 Chinese soldiers.
As geopolitical tensions rise and digital battlegrounds grow in importance, India’s assertive stance on online information flow marks a turning point in how the world’s largest democracy is choosing to counter foreign influence and manage wartime narratives.
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