China on Wednesday opposed India’s decision to ban an additional 43 mobile phone apps of Chinese origin for security reasons, saying the move violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
On Tuesday, India imposed a new ban on Chinese-sourced apps, the fourth time it has done so since the border standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Royal Line of Control (LAC) came to light in May. With this, the total number of Chinese origin apps banned by India has risen to 267.
“We strongly oppose India’s repeated use of ‘national security’ as an excuse to ban some Chinese-sourced mobile applications,” said Chinese embassy spokesman Ji Rong.
Also read: India’s ban on 43 Chinese apps is the fourth attack since Ladakh broke up
Ji called on India to lift the ban on the grounds that it goes against WTO rules.
“We hope that the Indian side will provide a fair, impartial and non-discriminatory business environment for all market players from various countries, including China, and rectify discriminatory practices that violate WTO rules,” he said.
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The Chinese government, Ji said, has always demanded that Chinese companies abroad “comply with international standards, operate in accordance with laws and regulations, and conform to public order and good customs.”
China and India represent “development opportunities for each other rather than threats,” Ji said, reiterating a line taken by Beijing since the border clash began.
“Both sides must bring the bilateral economic and trade relations back to the right path for mutual benefit and mutually beneficial results on the basis of dialogue and negotiation,” he added.
The border standoff involving tens of thousands of troops from both sides is currently in its seventh month, and several rounds of diplomatic and military talks have failed to make a breakthrough in disengaging and de-escalation at key friction points such as Lake Pangong. , Hot Spring and Depsang.
Troops from both sides have now barricaded themselves for the harsh winter, and India has been sending equipment such as winter clothing and shelters to soldiers in advanced areas.
Since the standoff broke out, India has tightened the rules regarding Chinese investments in the country and cracked down on Chinese-origin apps under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, saying they “engage in activities which are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, state security and public order ”.
India initially banned 59 Chinese-origin apps on June 29, before banning 47 more on July 28, 118 more on September 2, and 43 more on November 24. Among the apps banned on Tuesday was the AliExpress app from Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. .
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