On May 14, the X account of the Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times was blocked in India. The outlet has frequently been accused of pushing Chinese propaganda and spreading false narratives against India and its allies.
Most recently, during Operation Sindoor—India’s precision missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK)—Global Times circulated misleading reports using outdated images of crashed aircraft to fabricate claims of Indian losses. The Indian government condemned this attempt to distort facts and mislead the public.
#BREAKING: Chinese Propaganda Mouthpiece Global Times Blocked by India. Global Times since years was engaged in spreading Disinformation, Fake News and Propaganda against India. pic.twitter.com/EYtFjlTWwc
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 14, 2025
“Dear Global Times, we recommend you verify facts and cross-check your sources before publishing such disinformation,” the Indian Embassy in China stated in a post on X.
The embassy further noted that several pro-Pakistan accounts were circulating baseless claims related to Operation Sindoor in an attempt to mislead the public. “When media organisations share such content without source verification, it reflects a serious failure of responsibility and journalistic ethics,” it added.
The government also highlighted that the Centre’s official fact-checking unit, PIB Fact Check, had exposed multiple instances of fake news—where outdated images of crashed aircraft were being recycled to spread false narratives around Operation Sindoor.
“Let us clarify the facts for you,” the Indian Embassy stated. “On April 22, 2025, terrorists from Pakistan and Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a brutal attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The attackers deliberately targeted a specific community, asking victims to reveal their religion before killing 26 people — including one Nepali national. This was the deadliest terror attack on civilians in India since the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks.”
(1/n) Dear @globaltimesnews , we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of dis-information. https://t.co/xMvN6hmrhe
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) May 7, 2025
“The group calling itself The Resistance Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the attack, is in fact a front for the UN-designated Pakistani terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba,” the Indian Embassy said. “India had already submitted detailed inputs on TRF to the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee Monitoring Team in its biannual reports of May and November 2024, highlighting TRF’s role in shielding Pakistan-based terror groups.”
India further recalled that in December 2023, it had informed the UN monitoring team about Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad using smaller outfits like TRF to mask their operations. Notably, Pakistan’s efforts to exclude any mention of TRF from the April 25 UN Security Council press statement underscore its continued attempts at obfuscation.
“Even two weeks after the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has taken no visible action against terrorist infrastructure on its soil or in Pakistan-occupied territories. Instead, it continues to resort to baseless denials and counter-allegations. Indian intelligence has credible indications that Pakistan-based terror modules are planning additional attacks,” the statement concluded.
Notably, Global Times was one of the leading sources of disinformation during Operation Sindoor. It falsely claimed that Pakistan had shot down five Indian fighter jets—without providing any evidence to support the allegation. In reality, no such incident occurred, and no wreckage was ever found, confirming the claim was baseless.
As a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, Global Times regularly spreads fake news and propaganda aligned with Beijing’s geopolitical interests.
False Claims by Global Times During Operation Sindoor
During Operation Sindoor, a series of disinformation campaigns were propagated by various sources, including the Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times. These false narratives were aimed at undermining India’s military actions and deflecting attention from the real issues.
Old Crash Images Used to Spread Fake News During Operation Sindoor
India’s official fact-checking body, @PIBFactCheck, flagged multiple instances where old images of crashed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were being falsely circulated online in connection with Operation Sindoor.
One such image was from a MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan in September 2024, while another was traced back to a MiG-21 crash in Punjab in 2021. These unrelated incidents were misrepresented by pro-Pakistan handles and propaganda outlets like Global Times to fabricate claims of Indian losses during the recent military operation. The government clarified that no Indian fighter jets were downed during Operation Sindoor, and such misinformation was being spread deliberately to mislead the public and international community.
Disinformation on Indian Military Infrastructure Damage
Global Times falsely reported that Indian airbases like Adampur and Pathankot were severely damaged in Pakistani retaliatory strikes. These claims were baseless and aimed at creating panic and undermining India’s military capability. In reality, all key airbases remained fully operational throughout Operation Sindoor. India’s advanced air defence systems effectively intercepted incoming missile and drone threats. There was no structural or operational impact on critical infrastructure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Adampur served as a direct rebuttal to these falsehoods. He reviewed operations next to an undamaged S-400 air defence unit, disproving the propaganda. The misinformation was part of a broader narrative to question India’s defence preparedness.
False Reports of Civilian Casualties from Indian Strikes
During Operation Sindoor, Global Times alleged that India’s missile strikes caused civilian casualties in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). These claims were based on vague, unverifiable “local sources” and lacked any credible evidence. No independent international media outlets corroborated the accusations made by the Chinese state-run outlet.
Narrative Shift to Deflect from Pahalgam Terror Attack
In its coverage of Operation Sindoor, Global Times downplayed the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, J&K. The attack, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba-backed terrorists, killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national. Victims were targeted based on their religion, marking one of the deadliest sectarian assaults since 26/11. Instead of condemning the terror strike, Global Times framed India’s response as unjustified military aggression. The outlet ignored credible evidence linking The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar proxy, to the attack. Global Times’ selective reporting attempted to shift the focus away from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. This narrative manipulation undermines global efforts to counter terrorism and protect civilian lives.
