NEW DELHI, May 14 — India on Wednesday reversed its decision to block access to Chinese and Turkish state-run media platforms, hours after taking action against them for allegedly disseminating false pro-Pakistan narratives during heightened military tensions.
The temporary ban targeted China’s Global Times and Turkey’s TRT World, both accused of spreading misinformation in the wake of Pakistan’s use of foreign-origin weaponry during recent escalations.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initially acted following reports that Turkish-origin drones and Chinese-made missiles were deployed by Pakistan in violations of Indian airspace.
Among the incidents that triggered the diplomatic response was a Global Times report falsely claiming an Indian Rafale jet had been downed near Bahawalpur. The Indian Embassy in Beijing issued a firm rebuttal, noting that the tabloid had used visuals from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab’s Moga district to support its claim.
“Dear Global Times News, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the Indian Embassy posted on X.
In a subsequent message, the Embassy added, “Several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading baseless claims in the context of #OperationSindoor, attempting to mislead the public. When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.”
While Global Times operates under the Chinese Communist Party, TRT World serves as Turkiye’s national broadcaster. Both platforms were restored later in the day following diplomatic engagement, though Indian officials maintained that the spread of unverified information during sensitive times would not be tolerated.
Further monitoring of foreign media coverage is expected as tensions remain elevated in the region.
