China media blames Indian press for anti-Beijing sentiments

Beijing: China's state-run Global Times has blamed the Indian media for deteriorating ties between the two countries.

In a scathing article against the media in India, the Global Times wrote that "they grab all the attention they want like always" and "also caused a deterioration in the Indian public`s views of China".

The Indian press "has not yet learned to see the considerable potential of the bilateral relationships with a constructive mind-set", it said.

The article was written against the backdrop of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi`s India visit that was focused on cooperation over the upcoming G20 and BRICS summits.

It said while the tour was widely reported but "quite a few Indian media started to cover the tour with the eye-catching headline `China blocked India`s NSG bid, but now wants help on South China Sea`."

"They tend to attach more attention to divergences while overstating contradictions between the two. Words like `invasion` or `transgression` are often used by them to describe Beijing without naming sources, and the `China threat theory` has been hyped up by them from time to time."

The tabloid wondered why the Indian media is doing it "again this time".

"Given the recent frictions between the two countries, including the NSG issue and New Delhi`s rejection of visa extension requests for Chinese reporters, there are indeed certain puzzles left unresolved in the bilateral relationship. But they can hardly represent the big picture of Sino-Indian ties."

The article, however, praised the efforts of the India and Chinese governments for "enhancing collaboration and promoting more communications and mechanisms over bilateral, regional issues".

It said that the Indian government was treating its relations with Beijing "rationally" but "the country`s media and public opinion are busy stirring up negative sentiments".

"Over the years, bilateral joint works are unfolding in a variety of fields such as international trade, environmental protection, infrastructure projects, and anti-terrorism, as well as energy security."

The newspaper said it was important for the Indian media "to remember that development and prosperity are needed by both sides and they need a stable environment for that".