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Phoebe Zhang

India has blocked two Chinese state-backed social media accounts accused of spreading “disinformation” during the latest conflict with Pakistan.
The X, formerly Twitter, accounts of Global Times and state news agency Xinhua were blocked on Wednesday as tensions remained high between the two neighbours.
The Post has confirmed that the Global Times account was not accessible in the country but was back by Friday, but Xinhua’s page said “the account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand”.
Xinhua and Global Times did not respond to requests for comment.
India and Pakistan, which have clashed on many occasions over the disputed territory of Kashmir, carried out multiple strikes on the other side earlier this month before calling a ceasefire on May 10.
Both sides accused the other of escalating the conflict and have made unverified claims about casualties from missile and artillery attacks.
Xinhua’s reports of the conflict have been limited, and its English language posts on X have only quoted the Pakistani side’s reports of civilian casualties.
The Times of India reported on Wednesday that the two state-backed Chinese accounts had been banned by the government in New Delhi for “spreading unverified claims on Indian military”.
It also said the account run by TRT World – the English-language arm of the Turkish national broadcaster – had also been “withheld for disseminating misinformation and fake news after India carried out precision strikes on terror camps” on May 6 and 7.
On May 10, it posted on X: “Pakistan says a major aerial clash with India on May 6-7 involved over 120 fighter jets from India and Pakistan, making it one of the largest and longest dogfights in recent global history.”


The Indian embassy in China had previously warned media outlets against posting unverified facts on social media and said several pro-Pakistan handles were spreading “baseless claims” and attempting to mislead the public.
On May 7 it posted on X: “Dear Global Times, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation.”
It followed a report by the newspaper, which is owned by Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down an Indian fighter.
The embassy also referred to the incident that triggered the conflict, a terrorist attack in Indian-held Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. It said the “facts of the issue” were that “Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a savage terror attack” that targeted its victims based on their religion.
China has a long-standing “ironclad brotherhood” with Pakistan and has supplied many of the advanced weapons used in the conflict, including J-10 fighters that are claimed to have shot down several Indian planes. According to Reuters, US sources confirmed that a J-10 had shot down at least one French-made Rafale fighter.


However, Beijing has taken a cautious stance on the conflict, saying it was “deeply concerned by the situation and urging its two neighbours to exercise restraint in the interests of regional “peace and stability”.
On Friday, it was reported that the ceasefire between the two countries would be extended until Sunday.


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China-India relations

India blocks state-backed Chinese X accounts for spreading pro-Pakistan ‘disinformation’

The aftermath of an Indian strike in Muridke, a town near Lahore in Pakistan. The two sides have made unverified claims about civilian casualties as a result of the attacks. Photo: Xinhua

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Metal debris is seen on the ground in Kashmir on Wednesday. Pakistan claimed to have shot down French Rafale fighter jets operated by India’s air force with a Chinese-made J-10C aircraft. Photo: Reuters

The Pakistan Air Force is the only foreign operator of the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet. Photo: Handout

Kashmir conflict: the Chinese warplanes and weapons used by Pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign minister has claimed that Chinese J-10C fighter jets were used to shoot down Indian aircraft along the border. Photo: Handout

Pakistan is the only known operator of J-10Cs outside China. Photo: AFP

The Pakistan Air Force has around 120 JF-17 jets in service. Photo: AFP

The missile has a range of more than 40km. Photo: Handout

The HQ-9 system has been in service in China since 2001. Photo: Handout

The howitzer can fire four to six rounds per minute, with a range up to 50km. Photo: Handout

The J-35 stealth fighter is widely seen as China’s answer to the American F-35. Photo: Xinhua

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) visiting Adampur air force base in Punjab on Tuesday. Photo: India’s Press Information Bureau via Reuters

News

China

Politics

Global Times and Xinhua were banned by New Delhi on Wednesday for ‘spreading unverified claims’, according to local media reports


Global Times and Xinhua were banned by New Delhi on Wednesday for ‘spreading unverified claims’, according to local media reports.


India-Pakistan tensions

India

Kashmir

Pakistan

India blocks state-backed Chinese X accounts for spreading pro-Pakistan ‘disinformation’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Global Times and Xinhua were banned by New Delhi on Wednesday for ‘spreading unverified claims’, according to local media reports

Global Times and Xinhua were banned by New Delhi on Wednesday for ‘spreading unverified claims’, according to local media reports