China Upset At India's App Attack; Relations Might Be Permanently Damaged

Officials at China's embassy in India criticized the India government's decision to add more China-made apps to its ban list.

The addition of dozens of apps to the growing blacklist has further strained relations between the two countries.

India announced it would add 43 more Chinese apps to its software blacklist. This included Alibaba's AliExpress, e-commerce streaming site Taobao Live and workplace app DingTalk.

"We firmly oppose the India side's repeated use of 'national security' as an excuse to prohibit some mobile apps with Chinese background," the Chinese embassy said late Wednesday.

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said the banning of the apps was justified because they had been proven to have engaged in activities "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India." The ministry alleged the apps were a threat to the country's defense and security.

China said it required local app developers operating overseas to adhere to local laws and regulations. China officials have repeatedly called on India to reverse course and halt its banning of legitimate mobile apps.

China's Foreign Ministry said that India should safeguard the rights and interests of all of its foreign investors, including China companies. The ministry said if India continued it could permanently damage cooperation.

Relations between two of the world's most populous nations have deteriorated since June. A clash between border patrols, which left 20 India soldiers dead, resulted in a public outcry in India to boycott all China-made goods and services.

Since the incident, more than 200 China mobile apps have been banned - including the popular short-video streaming app TikTok and China-made mobile video game PUBG.

Negotiations have so far failed. Tensions have since spilled over to other sectors, straining the $80 billion in bilateral trade between the countries.