China-Backed Global Times’ X Account Withheld In India

The X account of Chinese government-affiliated media outlet Global Times has been withheld in India. Users attempting to view the handle @globaltimesnews are met with a note stating, "This account has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand."

The withholding of Global Times' X account is part of broader measures taken by India, to manage the information landscape amid recent India-Pakistan tension.

This follows an earlier post by the official handle of the Embassy of India in Beijing, China on X, which urged Global Times to refrain from spreading disinformation.

"Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of dis-information," the Embassy had said in a post.

It also highlighted that several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading baseless claims regarding Operation Sindoor, attempting to mislead the public. The Embassy emphasised that when media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.

Earlier, India requested the blocking of approximately 8,000 accounts on the social media platform, Elon Musk had said in a post. The request was made during escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, which was followed by a terror attack in Pahalgam.

Post Operation Sindoor a military conflict erupted between India and Pakistan, with Pakistan deploying drones across border cities in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, including Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. These incursions were met with countermeasures by Indian forces.

But after four days of intense exchanges, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement on Saturday, committing to halt all military actions on land, air, and sea. This ceasefire aims to de-escalate the situation and restore stability in the region.