Spooked China urges India to roll back ban on 118 apps; cries 'violation of WTO rules'

Terming ban on 118 Chinese apps by Indian government as 'discriminatory,' Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India, Ji Rong stated that neighbouring country is 'concerned' and firmly opposes prohibition imposed on mobile apps. Rong urged Indian government to rectify ban claiming that it violates WTO rules and urged to provide an 'open, fair and impartial' business environment for all market players. 

Rong maintained that Chinese government has always required its overseas companies to abide by international rules and operate in compliance with laws and regulations. On contrary, Information Techlogy Ministry stated that it received numerous complaints regarding misuse of se Apps for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers located outside India, which is why ban was imposed. 

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" Chinese government has always required Chinese overseas companies to abide by international rules and operate in compliance with laws and regulations. relevant practices by Indian government t only harm legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors and service providers but also harm interests of Indian consumers and investment environment. Suppression, self-seclusion and restrictions cant benefit one country's development. It is right way to integrate into global cooperation by being open, fair and transparent," Chinese spokesperson said on Thursday. 

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Centre bans 118 Chinese apps

In a massive development on Wednesday, Centre banned 118 more Chinese Apps including PUBG amid prolonged standoff with China at Line of Actual Control. As per Union government, y were engd in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of state. 

It ted with deep concern compilation of data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security. Mentioning that Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, MHA has sent an exhaustive recommendation to block se malicious Apps, IT Ministry added that re has been a bipartisan concern by public representatives as well as a strong chorus in public to take strict action. Apps have been banned in both mobile and n-mobile Internet-enabled devices.

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MEA issues response

Commenting upon Centre's move to ban 118 Chinese mobile apps on Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava highlighted that foreign companies in India will have to abide by rules and regulations laid out by Union Government. Srivastava, on Thursday, stated that banned apps engd in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity, and security of India. Despite ban, Srivastava maintained that India continues to welcome FDI, in area of internet techlogy, with sole condition of operating within government's regulatory framework.

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