Biden-era US official Lindsey Ford has praised India’s swift crackdown on Chinese telecom gear and social media platforms, telling a Congressional hearing that New Delhi acted far more decisively than Western nations in countering Beijing’s technology footprint.“India moved faster than everybody else on ripping China out of the telecom sector, out of social media apps,” Ford said, praising what she described as New Delhi’s “hard and realistic view” of the security challenges posed by China.She noted that India’s assertive steps, from banning Chinese apps to excluding Chinese telecom vendors from critical infrastructure, positioned it ahead of both the US and Europe in recognising technology as a national security threat.
According to Ford, India’s tough stance also helped “harden Europe’s spine” on China policy at a time when several European nations were still debating restrictions on Chinese firms.Her remarks come amid growing scrutiny in Washington over Beijing’s role in global telecom supply chains and digital ecosystems.
US-Pak strategy unrealistic, says Ford
Responding to questions on US policy towards Pakistan, Ford dismissed the idea of a “wedge strategy” aimed at pulling Islamabad away from Beijing as unrealistic.“The Pakistan relationship with China today is so much further advanced than it was a decade ago,” she observed, cautioning that Washington must take Indian concerns seriously.Ford argued that India’s scepticism over US engagement with Pakistan mirrors American criticism of New Delhi’s ties with Moscow. She warned that Western military tactics, training or technology shared with Pakistan could potentially flow to China, given Islamabad’s close strategic alignment with Beijing.“It behoves the United States to interrogate a little more the degree to which some of the things that Indian colleagues raise as concerns,” she added.
Why India banned Chinese social media apps
India’s sweeping digital crackdown began in June 2020, when the government banned 59 Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok, WeChat, UC Browser, and CamScanner.The move came after heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control following the Galwan Valley clashes. The government said the apps were engaged in activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”The ban was imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009. Authorities also cited complaints about user data being collected and transmitted outside India without authorisation.Subsequent rounds expanded the list to over 200 Chinese-linked apps, marking one of the most sweeping digital crackdowns globally.
