New Delhi: India has blocked the official X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Chinese state-run media outlets — Xinhua News Agency and Global Times — for allegedly spreading pro-Pakistan narratives and unverified claims. The decision, announced on Wednesday, comes at a time when diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan remain tense. Both the Xinhua News Agency and Global Times, known to be mouthpieces of the Chinese government, were reportedly amplifying content that Indian authorities deemed misleading and sympathetic to Pakistan’s stance on sensitive geopolitical issues.
The ban reflects a broader shift in India’s digital policy posture, where national security concerns are increasingly influencing social media regulation. This isn’t the first time India has taken such steps. Indian officials have maintained that the blocked Chinese handles were regularly disseminating unverified information, some of which aligned with Pakistan’s strategic messaging. The move is seen as an effort to counter what New Delhi perceives as coordinated information warfare targeting its sovereignty and international image.
No official list of flagged content has been released. The action underscores how platforms like X are becoming modern battlegrounds for global narratives. China’s Global Times, in particular, has often been accused of taking hardline editorial positions aligned with Beijing’s foreign policy. With their suspension in India, the government appears to be drawing clearer red lines when it comes to foreign media influence within its digital ecosystem.
While neither Xinhua nor Global Times has officially responded to the ban as of now, the development is expected to further strain India-China relations, which have been uneasy since the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
