China expresses "strong objection and serious concern" over India's Digital strike 3.0

Beijing, September 04: Expressing "strong objection and serious concern" over India government decision to banned 118 Chinese apps including the popular multiplayer game PUBG Mobile, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng said that India has abused "national security" by imposing discriminate restrictions on Chinese companies.

 

 

 

"India's action not only harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors and services providers but also harms the interests of Indian consumers while doing damage to India's investment climate as an open economy," Gao said according to the news agency.

 

"China-India economic and trade cooperation yields mutual benefits," Gao said. He also added, "We hope that the Indian side will work with the Chinese side to maintain hard-won bilateral cooperation and development so as to build an open and fair business environment for international investors and services providers including Chinese companies." Feng alleged that the move by India to ban Chinese apps violated relevant WTO rules and urged India to correct its mistakes.

 

India on Wednesday blocked 118 Chinese mobile apps stating that they are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.The latest list of banned Chinese apps includes some from Baidu, Alibaba, and Alibaba’s financial arm Ant Group, besides PUBG.

 

It comes following reports of fresh Chinese aggression in the Indian territory at Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. India has banned these apps saying that the apps are engaged in "activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.”

 

India's latest action against Chinese apps comes months after a similar ban was imposed on 59 Chinese apps in June this year. In June, the Centre had banned 59 Chinese applications including the popular short video sharing app TikTok, data sharing app ShareIt, UC Browser, and scanning app CamScanner over national security concerns.