The Indian government announced the banning of 118 Chinese apps, according to AFP.
#BREAKING India bans 118 Chinese apps in new backlash over border dispute: government pic.twitter.com/pdhJ7qljXM
— AFP news agency (@AFP) September 2, 2020
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEIT) announced on September 2 that it had banned 118 Chinese apps suspected of being involved in activities that endanger India's sovereignty and integrity, its defense, national security, and public order, according to ANI news agency.
The apps include PUBG Mobile Lite, WeChat Work, WeChat reading, CamCard, Baidu, photo editing app Cut Cut, video app VooV, Sina News, Taobao, Youku, Alipay.
Earlier on June 29, the Indian government announced the banning of 59 Chinese Apps.
India has been cracking down on Chinese companies since June this year when clashes broke out along the China-India border.
In June, the Indian government also banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, WeChat, and Weibo, for "security" reasons, arguing that they engaged in activities that undermined India's sovereignty, defense, national security, and public order.
However, after drawing huge attention to the so-called "security" argument, some Indian media are beginning to be concerned about the negative impact of the move.
The Indian Express stated that this could result in the loss of income and jobs for "Indians who create and work on these platforms".
India's New Delhi TV also said that the ban would overshadow the accounts of some celebrities and government agencies on platforms such as TikTok.
In July, India announced another ban on 47 Chinese apps. A total of 224 Chinese apps have been banned by the Indian government so far.
India's purge of Chinese apps spreads to Baidu and Weibo, local media says
