India bans 43 more mobile apps in latest escalation of China dispute
- The move represents a new wave of sanctions after 20 Indian soldiers died in a border clash with Chinese troops earlier this year
- ‘The Indian side should immediately correct this discriminatory practice so as to avoid causing greater damage to the cooperation,’ Chinese spokesman said
India banned 43 mobile applications on Tuesday including Alibaba Group’s e-commerce app AliExpress in a new wave of web sanctions targeted at China, with whom it has engaged in a months-long stand-off at a Himalayan border site.
The 43 mostly Chinese origin apps, which also include a few dating apps, threaten the “sovereignty and integrity of India”, the federal technology ministry said in a statement.
India has previously banned more than 170 apps – including the wildly popular video-sharing platform TikTok – saying they collect and share users data which could pose a threat to the state.
The moves, which India’s technology minister has referred to as a “digital strike”, were initiated after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a skirmish with Chinese troops at a disputed Himalayan border site in June.
China on Wednesday demanded India rescind the ban. A foreign ministry spokesman accused India of violating global free-trade rules and discriminating against Chinese companies.
“The relevant methods clearly violate market principles and WTO guidelines, and severely harm Chinese companies’ legal rights and interests,” Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
“The Indian side should immediately correct this discriminatory practice so as to avoid causing greater damage to the cooperation between the two sides.”