India withholds the Global Times X account and slams China’s “preposterous” attempt to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it an extension of Beijing’s propaganda warfare.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 14, 2025 – In a firm move to curb the spread of misinformation and push back against China’s narrative aggression, the Indian government on Wednesday blocked the X (formerly Twitter) account of Global Times, a Chinese state-run media outlet widely regarded as a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party. The action came just hours after India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sharply objected to Beijing’s “preposterous” attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Global Times X account, active under the handle @globaltimesnews, was withheld in India with users now seeing a message stating that the account “has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
The immediate trigger for the latest diplomatic row was Beijing’s release of a new list of “standardized” names for 30 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of “South Tibet.” India reacted strongly to this move, with the Ministry of External Affairs denouncing it as a futile exercise that would not alter ground realities.
“Assigning invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not change the fact that the state is and will always be an integral part of India,” the MEA spokesperson said. The renaming is part of China’s broader strategy to assert territorial claims, but Indian officials dismissed it as “senseless propaganda” aimed at legitimizing Chinese expansionism
The decision to block The Global Times account also came amid a broader crackdown on social media accounts accused of spreading disinformation, especially in the context of the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict and heightened regional sensitivities. Indian officials said Global Times had been actively disseminating false and inflammatory content targeting India’s armed forces and national interests.
One particularly egregious instance cited by Indian authorities was a Global Times post that falsely claimed an Indian Rafale fighter jet had been shot down near Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The Indian Embassy in Beijing responded on May 7 with a sharp public rebuke on X, accusing the publication of amplifying unverified Pakistani military sources and spreading fake news about Indian military operations.
ALSO READ: Trump Doubles Down on Ceasefire Credit and Its ‘Trade’ Link
The MEA’s criticism over China’s attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh added further fuel to the diplomatic fire. “Such acts do not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral part of India,” a MEA spokesperson said. The move to block Global Times followed swiftly, reflecting India’s zero-tolerance approach to what it sees as information warfare.
Global Times and Its History of Controversial Reporting
Global Times, published by the People’s Daily—the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party—has long faced criticism for its aggressive, nationalistic tone. Indian intelligence and security agencies have previously accused the outlet of running disinformation campaigns targeting India, particularly during sensitive periods such as the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and India’s G20 presidency in 2023.
“Global Times has a history of distorting facts to serve China’s strategic interests,” said a senior MEA official on condition of anonymity. “Its recent posts were not only misleading but also dangerous, as they risked escalating an already volatile situation.”
On May 8, just a day after the fake Rafale jet claim, the Indian Embassy in Beijing issued a public advisory, urging Global Times to verify information before publishing content related to Indian military operations.
India’s Broader Social Media Crackdown
The blocking of Global Times is part of a wider effort by the Indian government to regulate online content amid mounting tensions with Pakistan. After the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, attributed to Pakistan-backed militants, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of targeted strikes on terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC). The military escalation has been mirrored by a digital battlefront, with misinformation spreading rapidly on social media platforms.
ALSO READ: Kuki-Zo Council Holds Historic Meet, Reaffirms Demand for Union Territory
On May 8, X confirmed that it had received executive orders from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts, including those belonging to Pakistani journalists, celebrities, politicians, and media outlets. The platform described the move as bordering on censorship, noting that the government often failed to provide adequate justification or supporting evidence. Nevertheless, X complied, citing the risk of fines and imprisonment for its employees in India. The company’s Global Government Affairs account was briefly withheld in India on May 9, highlighting the seriousness of the crackdown.
Other international outlets have also faced restrictions. BBC Urdu and several Instagram pages—most notably one run by a prominent Muslim news group—have been blocked or removed at India’s request.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, has intensified its monitoring of digital platforms. The PIB Fact Check unit continues to urge citizens to verify information and report potentially harmful or misleading content, especially that concerning the Indian Armed Forces.
Strategic Messaging in a Volatile Region
Analysts suggest that India’s move to block Global Times underscores New Delhi’s growing assertiveness in confronting foreign propaganda, especially from China. The blocking follows Beijing’s repeated attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh—moves viewed in India as a blatant assertion of territorial claims.
Though China has yet to respond officially, previous incidents, such as its criticism of India’s restrictions on Chinese AI tools like DeepSeek, suggest Beijing may frame the block as an attack on Chinese media freedom and tech interests.
As geopolitical tensions rise in South Asia, the role of social media in shaping public opinion and influencing international narratives has become increasingly critical. India’s actions signal a determination to control the narrative during periods of crisis—though the fine line between national security and open discourse remains a subject of debate.
For now, Indian authorities continue to call on citizens to stay vigilant and consume information from verified sources. The PIB Fact Check unit has reiterated its commitment to combat disinformation and hinted that more actions against foreign propaganda channels may follow.
