China Accuses India Of "National Security Excuse" To Block Its Apps
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Nov 26, 2020
The Government of India Tuesday blocked 43 Chinese mobile apps from accessing by users in India, under section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The banned applications include numerous offerings by Chinese multinational tech conglomerate Alibaba Group, such as the e-commerce apps AliSuppliers, Ali Express, Alipay Cashier, and Alibaba Workbench.
Experts also say the ban is more a response to China than a reflection of data or privacy concerns.
The bans have taken place under the guise of national security, though the government rarely states how the violating apps are placing India or its citizens in danger. It said they threaten India's "sovereignty and integrity" but gave no details.
Chinese-owned apps have found a fast-growing market in India, with some companies creating India-specific apps that have exploded in popularity.
But the millions that Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led company raised from Alibaba- as well Japan's SoftBank-is not recent and happened when the Chinese were viewed favourably as major investors in the Indian startup ecosystem.
The Chinese government, in contrast, has in public statements repeatedly called on India to delink the border from other aspects of the relationship - a stand that officials in India say is untenable unless China returns to the status quo on the borders.
Alibaba's investments in the booming Indian online market include digital payments platform Paytm and online grocer BigBasket.
Other popular apps, like the video-making app TikTok and mobile game PlayersUnknown Battleground (PUBG), have also made it into the list of apps now prohibited from functioning in the country.
"China firmly opposes Indian side's repeated use of "national security" as excuse to prohibit mobile Apps with Chinese background".
Meanwhile, the eighth round of talks of the India-China senior military commanders was held in Chushulon on November 6 to ensure complete disengagement and full restoration of peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.
