Fake image shared as The Wire report on China's plan to 'annex Indian territory'

What's the claim?

A viral image circulating on social media purports to show a screenshot of an article from the Indian news website The Wire, claiming that China is preparing to annex Indian territory.

The image features the headline: "China is all set to annex Arundachal Pradesh and Sikkim as part of South Tibet after Modi govt was successfully coerced by Beijing" (sic). The article is attributed to Pravin Sawhney and dated October 29, 2024. The screenshot includes a map highlighting Arunachal Pradesh in red, suggesting it is a territory claimed by China.

On X (formerly Twitter), this screenshot was shared with captions such as, “China is flexing its muscles to annex Arunachal Pradesh,” attributed to Sawhney. Archived posts can be found here and here.

Screenshots of viral social media posts. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The purported screenshot also appeared on Facebook, with archived versions available here and here.

However, our investigation revealed that this screenshot is digitally altered, and no such article was published by The Wire.

What did we find?

We searched The Wire's website and social media accounts (archived here and here) and found no record of the alleged article being published on or before November 4, 2024.

Instead, we discovered a different opinion piece by Sawhney, dated October 23, titled "Why Mutual Trust Will Elude India, China Despite Patrolling 'Deal', Modi-Xi Meeting." This article discusses China's proposal for a phased plan to ease tensions in eastern Ladakh by establishing buffer zones. It does not contain any of the claims presented in the viral screenshot.

Screenshot of The Wire's article from October 23. (Source: The Wire/Screenshot)

Several discrepancies were identified

The map featured in the viral image is not from The Wire either; it originates from the International Crisis Group's report titled "Thin Ice in the Himalayas: Handling the India-China Border Dispute," published on November 14, 2023. The report refers to the map as the "Map of the Eastern Sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)." The International Crisis Group is a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing and resolving conflicts.

Comparison of the viral screenshot with the original image published by the International Crisis Group. (Source: International Crisis Group/Screenshot)

Additionally, the headline in the viral image contains a misspelling or typo, incorrectly stating "Arundachal Pradesh" instead of "Arunachal Pradesh."

The date format in the fabricated screenshot also does not conform to The Wire's typical style. The mobile site typically abbreviates month names, using formats like "Oct 07, 2024" or "Nov 1, 2024," while the desktop version employs "07/Oct/2024" or "01/Nov/2024." In contrast, the viral screenshot uses "October 29, 2024," indicating it has been digitally manipulated.

Logically Facts contacted The Wire for comment on the viral image and was told, "We can confirm that The Wire did not publish any such article by Pravin Sawhney. Nor did we publish a piece with this headline, under the byline of any other author."

Coordinated patrolling resumed

Following the disengagement at friction points in Demchok and Depsang Plains along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, Indian troops have resumed patrolling in Demchok.

The Indian Express reported that Indian Army sources confirmed that "coordinated patrolling" began on November 1, 2024, in Demchok and will soon commence in the Depsang Plains. This action aligns with the agreement between India and China announced on October 21, prior to discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Russia.

Relations between India and China deteriorated after Chinese incursions in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, leading to a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Tensions peaked on June 15 with the Galwan Valley clash, resulting in the deaths of several soldiers on both sides—the first deadly confrontation in 45 years. 

This skirmish escalated military deployments on both sides, increased diplomatic tensions, and prompted high-level talks to de-escalate the situation along the disputed border.

The verdict

A doctored screenshot falsely claims The Wire published an article titled "China is all set to annex Arundachal Pradesh and Sikkim as part of South Tibet after Modi govt was successfully coerced by Beijing." No such article exists; the headline, date, and map were digitally manipulated, with the map sourced from a non-profit NGO.

(This fact-check has been updated to reflect a response from The Wire about the viral image.)