In a statement released today, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy, Counselor Ji Rong said that the move taken by the Indian side to ban the Chinese apps has damaged the rights of Chinese Companies and that India should correct its wrongdoings.
"We have noted the relevant reports. On June 29, the Indian government banned 59 mobile apps with Chinese background including WeChat, which severely damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. The Chinese side has lodged solemn representation to the Indian side and asked the Indian side to correct its wrongdoings," Counselor Ji Rong said.
The protest from The Chinese side has a day after India decided to ban 47 more Chinese apps on Monday. The government is expected to release the list of 47 new apps which have been banned soon.
The move was taken as these 47 apps were operating as clones of the apps banned earlier. Sources have said that these apps were violative of India’s data protocol and were compromising the data safety of users. It is alleged that they were sharing Indian data with Chinese agencies.
Reacting at the development, the spokesperson claimed that the Chinese enterprises always abide by international rules and local laws and regulations when conducting external cooperation.
"The Indian government has the responsibility to protect the legitimate rights and interests of international investors in India, including Chinese businesses, in accordance with market principles. Practical cooperation between China and India is mutually beneficial. Deliberate interference in such cooperation will not serve the interests of the Indian side."
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Ji Rong threatened saying that China will also take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
It can be recalled that the Indian government in June banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser and Xiaomi's Mi Community. The step was taken over national security concerns as India-China bilateral relations nosedived after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country including Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live and more.