As result of rising tensions between India and China, India on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok and WeChat. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian in an ANI report was quoted as saying that he was “verifying” the situation and “China is strongly concerned,” by such a move on India’s part.
He also said that India has a responsibility to uphold the rights of Chinese businesses. Other apps banned by India include the UC browser by Alibaba and two of Xiaomi’s apps.
The Indian Ministry of Information Technology said the apps are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”
The move to ban the apps comes after a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh's Galwan valley weeks ago.
In a statement, the IT ministry also said it had not shared any information of users in India with “any foreign government, including the Chinese government” and “if we are requested to in the future we would not do so”.
The ministry said that it had received complaints alleging theft of user data and violations of user privacy.
In wake of the clash at the Galwan valley, anti-China sentiment has been simmering in India and this has led to calls for banning Chinese businesses, which export goods worth nearly $60 billion to India.