China flares tensions with India after New Delhi’s jolt to Pakistan with ‘Operation Sindoor’

India and China are once again embroiled in a diplomatic war of words, following Beijing’s renewed attempt to assert territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India categorically rejected China’s move to rename 30 places in the state, calling it a "vain and preposterous attempt" to alter geopolitical realities. 

"Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," the MEA said in a strongly worded statement.

Notably, this is not the first time China has attempted such provocations. In 2024, Beijing issued a map renaming locations within the Indian state, actions that New Delhi saw as deliberate provocation aimed at undermining Indian sovereignty in the region.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had earlier remarked, "If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine?"

Global Times blocked as propaganda escalates

As a further response, India recently blocked the X (formerly Twitter) account of Global Times, a state-run Chinese mouthpiece known for its aggressive propaganda.

The account was reportedly disseminating misinformation, especially targeting India’s successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan.

The Global Times, which functions under the Chinese Communist Party’s purview, has a history of publishing anti-India content, including narratives aligned with Beijing’s view during the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.

ALSO READ: Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance; Kashmir issue bilateral between India and Pakistan: MEA

China-Pakistan nexus and geopolitical alignment

India has long been wary of the China-Pakistan axis, especially given Beijing’s investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Analysts suggest that China’s provocation over Arunachal Pradesh might be a calibrated move to support Pakistan diplomatically, following India’s visible military and strategic pushback.

Moreover, with the rise of India as a counterbalancing force in the Indo-Pacific and growing ties with the Quad alliance, comprising the US, Japan, Australia, and India, Beijing’s discomfort has become more evident. The repeated provocations, both physical and psychological, are seen as attempts to unsettle India's regional confidence.