Indian government blocks mobile apps developed by Chinese companies

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Against the background of continued tension in Indian-Chinese relations due to territorial disputes in Ladakh region, the Indian government continues to take measures to reduce the level of China’s economic presence in the country.

For this purpose, on 24 November, a decision was made to block 43 mobile applications developed by Chinese companies in India. Among them, four mobile apps from the Chinese online retailer Alibaba, including AliExpress.

As a result, the number of blocked Chinese applications in India since the transition of the India-China border conflict into a hot phase in May-June 2020 reached 220 units. The Indian authorities explain the introduction of these restrictions by the threat of harm to the sovereignty, integrity and security of India, emanating from the operation of these applications.

At the same time, experts condition the adoption of new sanctions measures by the following factors.

First, India is concerned about the continued build-up of China’s presence in the disputed region of Ladakh, where in November 2020  the Chinese side has modernized its military infrastructure. These actions in New Delhi were perceived as a provocative move, reducing the chances of restoring the status quo and ending tensions.

Second, despite New Delhi’s "declarative" adherence to the "policy of non-alignment," India is acting in the wake of an anti-Chinese American strategy. It is no coincidence that the Indian authorities’ squeezing out of China’s digital companies is taking place against the backdrop of similar measures being taken in the West.

Third, the new restrictions fit into the country’s priorities to protect the interests of Indian IT companies, which are trying to oust Chinese competitors from the local online market, which is considered the fastest growing in the world.

In general, the struggle unfolded in India against the information companies of the PRC testifies to the formidable nature of the Indian-Chinese differences and the inevitability of their negative impact on the promising areas of cooperation between the two countries.