Did India block Xinhua, Global Times on X over fake news on Rafale downing?

India banned the X accounts of state-run Chinese outlets Xinhua News Agency and Global Times on Wednesday for spreading Pakistani propaganda and unverified information.

This comes after the India dismissed Global Times’ May 7 post on X, falsely claiming Pakistan downed India’s Rafale and other jets.

It should be noted that a low-quality image of a MiG fighter jet that crashed in September 2024 had been falsely shown as a Rafale downed by Pakistan last week. The PIB Fact Check team has clarified the same on its X account.

ALSO READ: FACT CHECK: Did Pakistan shoot down Indian Rafale fighter jet during ‘Operation Sindoor’

The Indian embassy had earlier warned Chinese media outlets to verify facts on Operation Sindoor and before posting them on social media. “Dear Global Timesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the embassy posted on X.

The diplomatic mission later said that several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading fake news to mislead the pubic. “When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics,” it added.

The move comes amid Chinese move to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of External Affairs said Beijing’s creative naming will not change the “undeniable reality” that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral and inalienable part of India.

“We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically,” the ministry said.