China criticises Salman Khan’s ‘Battle of Galwan’ teaser over distorting facts

China has criticised Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan, accusing it of distorting historical facts related to the 2020 border clashes between India and China.

The teaser for the film was released on 27 December to coincide with Salman Khan’s birthday and was shared by the actor on his Instagram account.

The film features Khan portraying an Indian Army officer and is based on the deadly Galwan Valley clashes, which significantly escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Following the teaser’s release, China’s state-run newspaper Global Times published criticism of the film, claiming it misrepresents the events surrounding the confrontation.

According to the report, Chinese experts said that while films and television dramas often dramatise real-life incidents, they should not distort historical facts or misrepresent another country’s territorial claims.

The 2020 Galwan Valley clash marked one of the most serious military confrontations between India and China in decades, leading to heightened troop deployments, intensified border surveillance and prolonged diplomatic and military talks aimed at de-escalation.

Battle of Galwan is scheduled for theatrical release on 17 April 2026. Even ahead of its release, the film has sparked debate across Indian and Chinese media platforms, reflecting the continued sensitivity surrounding the border dispute.