54 Chinese apps banned in India

India’s Ministry of Information Technology has banned applications including applications from major Chinese technology companies such as Tencent, Alibaba and NetIs. These applications are similar versions of 267 programs that were banned in 2020 or have similar capabilities. The ministry said the 54 applications have received various permissions and are collecting sensitive information.

The move comes as long-running differences between the two nuclear nations continue, culminating in a bloody border clash in 2020 and the killing of soldiers on both sides. The border dispute prompted India to impose strict rules on Chinese investment, including a ban on Chinese applications.

According to Bloomberg, India and China share a 3,488-kilometer border across the Himalayas, where thousands of troops, tanks and military equipment have been deployed by both countries since the 2020 military conflict. Tensions between the two countries have risen, with the Indian military commander announcing last month that there was a risk of a Chinese military strike.