We welcome India’s ban on sure cell apps, Mike Pompeo mentioned (File)
New Delhi:
India’s ban on 59 Chinese language apps will enhance its sovereignty, integrity and nationwide safety, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned on Wednesday, welcoming the transfer which got here amid a stand-off between India and China in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.
“We welcome India’s ban on sure cell apps that serves as an appendage of the CCP’s (Chinese language Communist Occasion) surveillance State,” Mr Pompeo informed reporters.
“India’s clear app strategy will enhance India’s sovereignty. It would additionally enhance India’s integrity and nationwide safety,” he was quoted by information company PTI as saying.
The cell functions which have been banned included vastly widespread TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser, amid an enormous financial backlash in opposition to China following the June 15 clashes at Ladakh by which 20 Indian troopers died for the nation.
The federal government mentioned the apps had been blocked “in view of data out there they’re engaged in actions which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, safety of state and public order.”
Reacting to the ban, China mentioned India’s transfer was discriminatory.
“India’s measure, selectively and discriminatorily goals at sure Chinese language apps on ambiguous and far-fetched grounds, runs in opposition to honest and clear process necessities, abuses nationwide safety exceptions, and suspects of violating the WTO guidelines,” Chinese language Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong had mentioned.
The US, which has been engaged in bitter exchanges with Chine for months, first over commerce warfare then coronavirus, is dealing with calls for from some lawmakers to ban Chinese language apps, mainly TikTok, the viral video cell utility which is broadly widespread in India as nicely.
After India’s transfer, Republican Congressman Rick Crawford tweeted that “TikTok should go and it ought to have been gone yesterday.”
Final week, US Nationwide Safety Advisor, Robert O’Brien had mentioned that the Chinese language Authorities is utilizing TikTok for its personal functions.
TikTok, which had hundreds of thousands of customers in India, on Tuesday mentioned it was complying with the federal government order. “TikTok continues to adjust to all information privateness and safety necessities underneath Indian regulation and haven’t shared any data of our customers in India with any overseas authorities, together with the Chinese language Authorities,” it mentioned in a press release.
Authorities sources on Wednesday mentioned that the third spherical of senior military-level talks to resolve the stand-off with China passed off on June 30 however was inconclusive.
With inputs from PTI
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