China urges India to correct 'discriminatory' ban on Chinese apps

The Chinese embassy in India on Wednesday voiced firm opposition to India's repeated usage of national security as an excuse to ban Chinese mobile apps and urged the Indian side to correct such "discriminatory" actions.

"These moves in violation of WTO non-discriminatory principles and fair competition principles of market economy severely damage the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," Ji Rong, spokesperson of the embassy, said in a statement.

Ji made the comments in response to media reports that the Indian government will continue to ban 59 mobile apps with a Chinese background, including TikTok, Baidu, and WeChat.

The Chinese government always asks Chinese companies to observe international rules and local laws and regulations when doing business overseas, Ji said. "We urge the Indian side to immediately correct its discriminatory measures and avoid causing further damage to bilateral cooperation."