Year Ender 2020: From Boycotting Brands To Apps; India's Response To China Post Galwan Valley Attack

After the Galwan Valley clash, India blocked several Chinese mobile apps and products to hit where it hurts the most.

(Image: PTI)

India and China have been involved in a tense border stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. In a violent face-off between India and China in eastern Ladakh in June, India lost 20 soldiers, while Chinese casualties were over 40, according to reports. After the Galwan Valley clash, several rounds of talks have held yet the matter remains inconclusive. Meanwhile, India blocked several Chinese mobile apps and products to hit where it hurts the most. Here are some of the measures taken by India to respond China.

India's Response To China Post Galwan Valley Attack 

Over 200 Chinese Mobile Applications Banned In India On June 29, the central government blocked access to 59 Chinese mobile apps, and then on September 2, 118 more apps were banned under section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Later in November, the Indian government blocked another set of 43 mobile apps in India. The action was taken based on inputs regarding these apps for "engaging in activities prejudicial to India's sovereignty, integrity, defence, security, and public order". Popular apps including TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat, Xiaomi’s apps - Mi Video Call faced the brunt of tensed India-China relations as it was blocked in the country over its association with Chinese multinational technology conglomerate Tencent. Wallet Power The rising border disputes provoked aggression among Indian citizens. People resorted to "wallet power" in order to take revenge from the neighboring country China. The move came after education reformer and innovator Sonam Wangchuk posted a video on YouTube sharing a strategic plan to fight back China by boycotting everything Chinese. The IITian and academician Wangchuk in his video argued that India can beat China with its army protecting the borders and common citizens attacking China economically. Stating that China is more scared of an economic backlash than a conventional war, he asserted that if we put China in an economic bind, its people will rise against the totalitarian regime of Xi Jinping. Indian Army Occupied Crucial Heights Overlooking Chinese Army Positions Amid the ongoing military standoff along the Line of Actual Control, the Indian Army occupied heights overlooking the Chinese Army positions at Finger 4 along Pangong lake. The operations to occupy the heights were carried out along with the pre-emptive actions to occupy heights near the Southern bank of Pangong Tso around August-end. Initially, Chinese Army had occupied the heights near the Finger 4 but the Indian Army later on occupied the heights which overlook the Chinese positions at heights including the Green top. T-72, T-90 Tanks Deployed Along LAC To Counter China The Indian Army deployed T-90 and T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles that can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius, near Line of Actual Control in Chumar - Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh." Tender For 44 Vande Bharat Trains Cancelled In another jolt to China, India cancelled a tender for making 44 semi-high speed "Vande Bharat" trains. The Railway Ministry said that a fresh tender will be floated within a week which will give preference to the center's Make In India programme. Haryana Govt Canceled Rs 780 Cr Power Sector Contract With Chinese Firm Amid the rising border tensions between India and China, Bharatiya Janata Party-led Haryana Government decided to do away with its contracts worth Rs 780 Crore with Chinese firms for installing pollution control equipment at two of its thermal power facilities. Chinese companies had won the bid and secured the contracts for installing equipment at thermal power plants in Yamunanagar and Hisar. The bid was invited by the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) for both these plants.