How Turkey & China Joined Pakistan’s ‘Info War’ Against India
Turkey and China Join Pakistan’s ‘Info War’
Amidst the simmering India-Pakistan conflict, Turkey and China have gone beyond providing military support to Islamabad. Both Beijing and Ankara have become active participants in what can be described as an ‘information war’ on Pakistan’s side, amplifying the Pakistan Army’s narratives and potentially jeopardizing their own credibility in the process.
State-run media outlets in both countries, such as Global Times, Xinhua News Agency, and TRT World, have been openly promoting Pakistani claims and providing a global platform for them, even when these claims lack evidence or have been refuted by India.
State-Run Media: Mouthpieces for Propaganda?
The credibility of these state-run media outlets has already been questioned. The Global Times and Xinhua News Agency, based in China, are known for their close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and often present information that aligns with the party’s agenda. Similarly, TRT World, based in Turkey, has been accused of engaging in propaganda for the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, particularly as press freedom in Turkey has declined.
However, the uncritical acceptance of unsubstantiated claims from the Pakistani Army, even by these outlets, raises serious concerns about journalistic ethics and the spread of misinformation.
The Age of Information Warfare
The Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted the crucial role of information warfare in modern conflicts. Both sides actively engage in shaping public perception through their narratives and propaganda. The Ukrainian government, for example, has been accused of exaggerating Russian losses, while Russia has been accused of downplaying its own losses and spreading disinformation about Ukrainian atrocities.
In this context, the actions of Turkey and China in amplifying Pakistani narratives without proper verification are particularly concerning. They potentially contribute to a climate of misinformation and make it harder to discern truth from falsehood.
Specific Examples of Disinformation
Several instances highlight the extent to which Turkish and Chinese media have amplified Pakistani disinformation:
- Global Times’s False Claims: On May 7, 2025, Global Times reported that Pakistan had shot down three Indian fighter jets without providing any evidence. The Indian Embassy in China refuted these claims, calling on Global Times to verify its sources. Despite this, Global Times continued to promote Pakistani claims, even after the Indian Army had officially denied them. For example, they reported that Pakistani JF-17 Thunder jets had destroyed India’s S-400 air defense system, a claim that was refuted by the Indian Army.
- TRT World’s Amplification: The Turkish state-run media outlet TRT World also echoed the claims about Pakistan shooting down Indian Rafale jets. This could be seen as an attempt to boost the image of Turkey’s own under-development TF-Kaan fighter jet, which it is trying to sell in the Middle East.
These examples demonstrate how state-run media can be used to spread disinformation and potentially influence international perceptions of conflicts.
The Stakes are High
The spread of misinformation in the India-Pakistan conflict has serious implications. It can escalate tensions, fuel hatred, and make it more difficult to find peaceful solutions. It is crucial that media outlets, especially state-run ones, uphold journalistic ethics and verify information before disseminating it.
Tags:
“India-Pakistan Conflict, Information Warfare, Global Times, TRT World, Chinese Media, Turkish Media, Disinformation, Pakistan Army, Indian Army”
