China-India Relations

ByteDance in January cut its Indian workforce after New Delhi decided to retain a ban on its popular video app TikTok, first prohibited last year following a border clash between India and China. The authorities also directed Citibank and HSBC to prevent ByteDance India from withdrawing funds from any other bank accounts linked to its tax identification number, the first source said.

The move was widely linked to India's broader pushback against Chinese businesses after clashes at a disputed Himalayan border site left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

After months of tension, China and India have agreed to withdraw troops from their border dispute in the Himalayas. After several talks, an agreement had been reached, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament. He said an agreement had been reached to withdraw troops from the disputed border on the northern and southern shores of Lake Pangong Tso.

China had already said Wednesday that both sides had begun withdrawing their border troops there. Clashes had last occurred near the lake in May.

The foreign ministers of China and India announced an agreement to ease tensions after recent clashes on their contested Himalayan border.

Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met in Moscow on Thursday and issued a five-point statement aimed at ending a simmering confrontation.

Wang Yi said, "it is normal for China and India to have some differences as two neighbouring powers, but to put the differences in the proper place in bilateral relations."

S. Jaishankar stated "India does not want to see an escalation of tension in the border areas between India and China. India’s China policy has not changed, and I believe China has not changed either."

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India announced  118 Chinese mobile apps have been banned, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

Those on the list include several of Tencent's products including the hit video game PUBG Mobile and WeChat Work.

Previously the government had banned 59 of the most popular apps including TikTok over national security concerns.

According to an official statement, multiple premises of Chinese entities have been raided by the tax authorities of India.

The Indian authorities are investigating suspected money laundering but did not specify which entities and individuals have been raided. Following the statement over 40 bank accounts in dummy entities have been created and entered into credits of over $134,03 million in the local currency rupees.

One of the checked Chinese companies has allegedly taken over $13,4 million from shell companies to open "retail showrooms" in India.

China has completed the withdrawal of troops from three sites in the Ladakh area after the agreement from both sites to disengage from the stand-off. Both sides had previously agreed to disengage their troops from the Line of Actual Control with the goal of "full restoration" of peace in the border areas.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs "They also agreed that for the overall development of bilateral relations it was essential to maintain enduring "peace and tranquillity in the border areas".

The Indian and Chinese sides have agreed on a de-escalation at the Line of Actual control standoff situation in Galwan Valley. Indian National Security Advisor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have agreed on disengagement in the areas in order to reduce the tensions. India has confirmed that the Chineses side has removed tents and moved vehicles as well as troops multiple kilometers out of the agreed disengagement areas. Both sides are said to gradually move back around three kilometers.

Satellite images indicate that construction work is underway on both the Indian and on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control, the disputed area along the Galwan River Valley. Both sides have previously publically stated through their diplomats that they had agreed to disengage from a standoff. According to experts, the Indian side apparently has built a wall and the Chinese side has expanded an outpost camp that is connected to additional military bases deeper into Chinese territory.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed over 20,000 troops to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed region between India and China after conflicts are tensing. The Times of India has reported on the movement of additional forces, saying that Chinese troops are able to reach the Indian front in 48 hours time using high mobility vehicles and weaponry. According to Asian News International an Indian government source has stated that "The Chinese Army has deployed around two divisions worth of troops (around 20,000) along the LAC in the Eastern Ladakh sector. There is another division (10,000 troops) which has been stationed by it in the Northern Xinjiang province almost a 1,000 kilometres from the front but they can be mobilised to reach our frontiers in maximum 48 hours time due to the flat terrain on the Chinese side".

The Ministry of Information Technology of India announced Monday the ban of 59 Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok and WeChat. In a press release, the Ministry, states the ban is a response "of the emergent nature of threats" and that the apps "are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.".

At the moment, all listed apps are still available on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store, and it is not clear how the Indian Government plans to enforce the ban.