Last updated on September 17th, 2025
Editor’s note
The viral video claiming that “Chinese President ignored Prime Minister’s handshake” has sparked widespread criticism, political debate, and hostile comments on social media, misleading some audiences and intensifying public polarization. This false narrative recurs periodically and are often amplified around major diplomatic summits. Taking the 1 September 2025 clip as a case study, this article traces its origin, analyzes its content, and offers a verdict and public guidance to promote media literacy.
Claim
On 1 September 2025, X user @xinwendiaocha posted a video claiming that at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Indian Prime Minister reached out to shake hands with Chinese President, but Chinese President turned away and ignored the gesture. The clip presents the interaction as a diplomatic discourtesy by the Chinese side.
The post published by X user @xinwendiaocha
Fact check:
1. Dissemination analysis:
Videos of the leaders’ interaction circulated in periodic bursts, first in October 2024 during the BRICS summit with over 1 million views, and again on August 31, 2025 around the SCO summit with over 150,000 views. Social media analysis indicates that spread was centered on X and extended to Facebook and Reddit, driven by ordinary users, Key opinion leaders with 10,000–500,000 followers, and nearly 100 suspected bot accounts.The pattern of editing videos, concentrated posting and cross-platform sharing suggests organized amplification that exploits summit attention to create a false impression of diplomatic embarrassment.
2. Visual analysis
The video’s background is blue and shows the BRICS 2024 emblem used at the Kazan summit in Russia, not the red-and-gold stage and “SCO 2025” signage seen at the Tianjin SCO summit, indicating the video was not shot in Tianjin.
The footage from the viral video
The on-site photo of BRICS from China’s Xinhua News Agency
The BRICS emblem
3. Source analysis
The full video was first uploaded to the official @ANI News YouTube channel on 23 October 2024, titled “Historic handshake: PM Modi holds meeting with Chinese President at BRICS Summit,” which shows the two leaders shaking hands in front of national flags.The full version is available from other official media.
The full video uploaded to @ANI News YouTube channel
The full video released by China Central Television
4. Editing techniques
The video is an edited version that preserves only the moment when Indian Prime Minister raises his hand and Chinese President moves forward, while cutting out the handshake that follows. The clip is repeatedly slowed down and overlaid with captions such as “Chinese President turns away.” The full version confirms that the two leaders did shake hands normally, with no sign of “ignoring.” The edited video’s selective framing and captions distort the event and spread a false narrative.
Background
Sino-Indian relations are sensitive given longstanding border issues. The 2024 Kazan BRICS summit marked the two leaders’ first formal meeting in five years; the 2025 Tianjin SCO summit was Indian Prime Minister’s first visit to China in seven years. Reports and widely published summit footage show normal, cordial interactions among leaders; no credible media report or official statement supports the claim that Chinese President publicly ignored a handshake.
The Chinese and Indian leaders shaking hands at the 2025 SCO summit
On 8 September 2025, Chinese President attended the BRICS summit via video link.
Conclusion
The video originates from the 2024 BRICS summit and has been mislabelled as footage from the 2025 Tianjin SCO summit. The full video shows the two leaders exchanging a normal handshake; there is no evidence that “Chinese President ignored Indian Prime Minister’s handshake.” Viewers are encouraged to check the source and date, watch the full video or trusted reports, and be cautious before sharing.
As a fact-check brand,Fact Hunter remains committed to systematically documenting these communication patterns. Follow us for ongoing insights into how narratives take shape and how truth cuts through the fog of conflict.
Have a questionable video or claim? Submit it to Fact Hunter’s investigation team at [therealfacthunter@outlook.com].
