The video appears to be solely targeted at a foreign audience. It is delivered entirely in English and appears on Xinhua’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook feeds – services which are banned in China.
Chinese reports say the online chat show aims to “comment on hot domestic and international topics from China’s perspective and with an international vision”.
Previous episodes have also focused on the stand-off and Sino-Indian relations, as well as relations with the US and President Donald Trump, but were more sober than this one.
How did Indians react?
Indian news outlets have rounded on the video, slamming it as racist.
The Hindustan Times said Xinhua released “a racist video parodying Indians” which “particularly targets the Sikh minority”.
News portal The Quint said it was “yet another attempt by Chinese media to push its aggressive rhetoric on the standoff”, while India Today accused Chinese media of going a “step further” in mocking India.
The video also prompted criticism from social media users.
“It’s not okay in the 21st century to have someone dress up in a turban, mock an Indian accent. Shocking from official agency.”–Ananth Krishnan @ananthkrishnan
“Propaganda is not enough for Xinhua, it now also makes racist videos about India. This is really unbelievable coming from state news wire.”–Jojje Olsson @jojjeols
But it has also generated some debate on the Doklam stand-off, with many on Facebook arguing about which country has sovereignty over the disputed territory.
How did all this begin?
The conflict began in mid-June when India opposed China’s attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.
The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is currently disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan’s claim over it.
- What’s behind the India-China Doklam border stand-off?
- Why border stand-offs between India and China are increasing
India and China fought a war over the border in 1962, and disputes remain unresolved in several areas, causing tensions to rise from time to time.
Each side has reinforced its troops and called on the other to back down.
On Wednesday, Indian officials said another border confrontation had flared up, this time in the Western Himalayas.