The Indian government has banned the X (formerly Twitter) account of China’s state-run media outlet, Global Times, following its repeated circulation of unverified claims and disinformation related to India.
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, during which the outlet was found spreading misleading narratives.
The decision follows a stern public warning issued by the Indian Embassy in China on May 7, which had urged Global Times to verify facts before posting on social media.
“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 posted on X.
Despite the warning, Global Times continued to circulate content viewed as factually incorrect and diplomatically provocative, prompting the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block the account under India’s IT laws.
The ban also aligns with India’s recent crackdown on foreign misinformation campaigns, especially during sensitive periods of military or diplomatic escalation.
Global Times, known for echoing the official line of the Chinese Communist Party, has frequently been at odds with India’s positions on border issues, foreign policy, and internal matters like Kashmir.