Chinese state media have suggested that haunting images of Omran Daqneesh, who was pulled from rubble after an air strike in Syria, could have been faked and used as part of a “propaganda war” by the West.

Millions of people around the world have been shocked by the footage of the three-year-old who narrowly survived a raid by Russian or Syian regime forces which killed his brother in the rebel-held district of Qaterji in Aleppo.

Beijing supports Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government and is close to Russia. China also regularly criticises Western powers for intervening in foreign wars.

“Critics have suggested that [the video] is part of a propaganda war, aimed at creating a ‘humanitarian’ excuse for Western countries to become involved in Syria,” a voice-over in the report by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said.

“The workers did not make rapid rescue efforts and instead quickly set up a camera,” it added.

The report was subtitled “Posed picture? Exaggeration? The video is suspected of being a fake”.