Restrictions on Diplomatic Activities and App Bans... US and India Intensify Coordinated Pressure on China

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The United States has imposed restrictions requiring Chinese diplomats operating in the U.S. to obtain approval when visiting American universities or meeting with local officials. India, which is experiencing border conflicts with China, has further expanded its ban on Chinese applications, joining the U.S. in a coordinated effort against China. On the 2nd (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in a press release, "American diplomats stationed in China are frequently obstructed from attending local cultural events, official meetings, and university visits," adding, "In the spirit of reciprocity, we are implementing the same measures for Chinese diplomats in the United States."

He asserted, "The Chinese Communist Party has implemented an opaque approval system designed to prevent U.S. diplomats from attending events and meetings, as well as from connecting with universities, media, and social networking services (SNS)," emphasizing that the U.S. has taken reciprocal actions corresponding to those experienced by its diplomats. This move is notable as it follows the closure of consulates in Houston and Chengdu, marking a direct restriction on diplomats by both the U.S. and China.

Separately, the State Department has required the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. to obtain approval from the State Department when hosting cultural events with more than 50 attendees outside the embassy. The State Department also announced plans to ensure that social media accounts of the Chinese Embassy and related entities are clearly identifiable as Chinese government accounts.

The Indian government on the same day additionally banned 118 Chinese apps, including the online payment app Alipay, the search engine Baidu, and Tencent's mobile game Battlegrounds. This measure was taken following another clash with China along the Himalayan border on the 31st of last month. India had previously banned 59 Chinese apps after the border clash in June and 47 more in July. Notably, the newly banned apps represent the largest variety and have significant influence in the Indian market, which is expected to deal a substantial blow to Chinese companies. The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated in a press release, "These apps owned by major Chinese tech companies such as Tencent and Alibaba secretly transmit Indian users' data to foreign servers," adding, "This poses a serious threat to national security and India's defense sovereignty, necessitating urgent countermeasures."

While cautious about the conflict between China and India, the U.S. supported India's position. David Stilwell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, criticized, "The Chinese Communist Party continues a clear and intense campaign of harassment against its neighbors, from the Taiwan Strait to the Himalayan mountains."

Market research firm Canalys forecasted, "India's measures will cause China to lose a strong foothold abroad, and the Chinese digital industry will suffer a greater impact than expected."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.