China is intensifying efforts to improve its relationship with India while also taking steps to manage the growing anti-India sentiment within its borders.
Vikram Doraiswami, India’s Ambassador to China, stated on July 31 during an open day event at the Indian Embassy in Beijing that the Chinese government is concerned about the increasing anti-India content on its social media platforms and is taking measures to address the issue. Attendees at the event, including Indian residents in China, raised concerns about the rise of hate and defamatory posts targeting Indians on Chinese social media. Doraiswami noted that the Indian Embassy is actively responding to these issues and that Chinese authorities are also implementing related measures.
Recently, some bloggers in China have stirred controversy by spreading false information targeting Indians. A notable example involved a post claiming that an Indian team leader at a software company in Shanghai had monopolized access to key source code and leaked company secrets to India. This post gained significant attention, even trending on Weibo's real-time search, but was later revealed to be fabricated. Chinese police have arrested the individual responsible for posting this misinformation.
The Chinese Embassy in India also criticized the anti-India sentiment, stating on its website that some Chinese individuals are promoting confrontation and exclusivity, which does not align with an open and confident stance that China aims to project.
This initiative aligns with China's recent shift towards improving relations with India. Following a rapid deterioration in ties after a border clash in 2020, both countries have recently resumed high-level exchanges and are working to normalize relations by easing visa procedures. Analysts suggest that the Chinese government views the improvement of bilateral relations as a strategic priority, prompting it to manage anti-India sentiment actively.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed expanding high-level exchanges and enhancing cooperation in economic, trade, media, and cultural fields during a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on July 22, stating, "Let us help our peoples understand each other correctly."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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