Is It seems when my Kapil’s Khichadi landed in Delhi last week, PM Modiji must have read the article titled, ‘Slay the Chinese Dragon’. As I am writing this column we have breaking news that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) just announced that it is banning the use of 59 Chinese origin Apps.
1. TikTok, 2. Shareit, 3. Kwai, 4. UC Browser, 5. Baidu map, 6. Shein, 7. Clash of Kings, 8. DU battery saver, 9. Helo, 10. Likee, 11. YouCam makeup, 12. Mi Community, 13. CM Browers, 14. Virus Cleaner, 15. APUS Browser, 16. ROMWE, 17. Club Factory, 18. Newsdog, 19. Beutry Plus, 20. WeChat, 21. UC News, 22. QQ Mail, 23. Weibo, 24. Xender, 25. QQ Music, 26. QQ Newsfeed, 27. Bigo Live, 28. SelfieCity. 29. Mail Mast , 30. Parallel Space, 31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi, 32. WeSync, 33. ES File Explorer, 34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc, 35. Meitu, 36. Vigo Video, 37. New Video Status, 38. DU Recorder, 39. Vault- Hide, Cache Cleaner DU App studio, 41. DU Cleaner, 42. DU Browser, 43. Hago Play With New Friends, 44. Cam Scanner, 45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile, 46. Wonder Camera, 47. Photo Wonder, 48. QQ Player, 49. We Meet, 50. Sweet Selfie, 51. Baidu, 52. Vmate, 53. QQ International, 54. QQ Security Center, 55. QQ Launcher, 56. U Video, 57. V fly Status Video, 58. Mobile Legends, 59. DU Privacy.
The MeitY said, "are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”. Last week I said that if the world is to be serious about the Chinese dictatorship, then some firm action will need to take place on multiple fronts. I accept this is a small step and requires a lot more in addition to fully augment the political and military strategy. In this regard I commend PM Modiji was also making sure that several international contracts that were to go to China have also been stopped. The rest of the world is beginning to realise that their inaction has allowed this rogue state to become a danger to global security.
The MeitY statement went on to say, “There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country. The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India. The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures”.I checked my phone, phew it turns out I don’t use any of these 59 Apps. How about each of you doing the same? If you find some, what will you do? I suggest seek better alternatives and make sure they work for you, and then get rid of the Chinese Apps.
What we also need to note is that China has systematically infiltrated almost every industry and sector in India. This embedding has taken place across the globe and to be honest, you have to take your hat off to the Chinese for their stealth war. They really used those international Dollars wisely by putting state money into state actors on a massive scale to underpin their global strategy. Something that India needs to learn quickly.
One thing that the public needs to be mindful about, it is not always easy to take such action without understanding its impact as well ensuring suitable alternatives are available. This is why the action India takes will be over a period of time. As India becomes confident that it has sourced suitable alternatives, that will be the time to impose further bans or tariffs. The screws are tightening, even slowly can bring to bear a huge amount of discomfort to the Chinese. I wonder who coined the term, death by a thousand cuts?
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
A great quote, worthy of serious consideration, but where it matters at the border with China and Pakistan, let’s make sure there is overwhelming power to not just repel the enemy, but to teach it a lesson of a life time.
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