India app Photo:VCG

The Chinese side expressed serious concern and firm objection to India's latest decision to ban 118 more Chinese apps, Gao Feng, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

India's ministry of information and technology announced that it would ban a total of 118 Chinese apps, claiming that the apps were "prejudicial" to the country's sovereignty, integrity and defense, the Hindustan Times reported. New Delhi has already banned 59 Chinese apps including the popular TikTok and WeChat.

India has abused "national security" by imposing discriminate restrictions on Chinese companies and India's action violates relevant WTO rules, Gao said. 

He said that the Chinese government has always asked Chinese companies to comply with international rules and local laws and regulations in their operations overseas.

"India's action not only harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors and services providers but also harms the interests of Indian consumers while doing damage to India's investment climate as an open economy," the Chinese Embassy in India stressed on Thursday.

China urged India government to immediately correct its mistakes. "China-India economic and trade cooperation yields mutual benefits," Gao said. 

"We hope that the Indian side will work with the Chinese side to maintain hard-won bilateral cooperation and development so as to build an open and fair business environment for international investors and services providers including Chinese companies," he said.