Rumormongering by Indian media may harm nation’s interests

As the Indian military confirmed that reports on a new border clash are “factually incorrect,” Chinese experts warned that irresponsible and habitual rumormongering by the Indian media will ultimately harm India’s national interests, especially at a time when both sides are working on military disengagement.

Indian media on Monday claimed that Chinese and Indian troops engaged in a clash at Naku La in the north Sikkim border area on Friday, which resulted in injuries on both sides. There have even been reports claiming that at least 20 Chinese soldiers were injured.

The Global Times learned from a source on Monday that the news was fake, as there was no record of this incident in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army ( PLA) front line patrol logs.

In recent days, the focus of top military leaders on both sides has been the ninth round of corps commander- level talks, not a new border clash, and the two sides have not been involved in such clashes mentioned by the Indian media, the source said.

The Indian military also later made a clarification, saying that there was a minor face- off at the Naku La area of North Sikkim on January 20 and the same was resolved by commanders as per established protocols.

Chinese analysts said that Indian media organizations must have some motives to make these incorrect reports after the talks. Just a week ago, Indian media outlets hyped China’s construction of a village in a “disputed area,” smearing the construction that they claimed was built within Indian territory, which observers regarded as a move to stir anti- China sentiment.

China and India on Sunday held the ninth round of the Corps Commander Level Meeting, in which both sides agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops and continue to stabilize and control the border situation, China’s defense ministry announced on Monday.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Time on Monday that it is possible that the Indian military did not want this event to disrupt the talks, but Indian media managed to get inaccurate information, so the Indian military was forced to make a response.

Indian media claimed that China suffered five times more casualties in the latest round in an attempt to show preparedness and valor. But fanning the flames and confusing people will in the end harm their own reputations and India’s national interests, Qian said.