Chinese global companies like Huawei, Alibaba and others having a direct or indirect link with the Chinese Army and could face action in India. These cos are among Chinese companies which the government sources claim having links with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The 7 Chinese companies under the scanner are Xindia Steels, Xinxing Cathay international, China electronic technology group, Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent, SAIC motor corporation. Government sources say that “these companies are under watch and could face potential action”.
Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent are part of China’s military-civil fusion and artificial intelligence projects. Sources pointing to the 2019 report of US-China economic and security review commission said, ”under China’s military-civil fusion policy, government-supported mechanisms, including venture capital (VC) funds…(are used for) leveraging the fruits of civilian innovation for China’s defence sector.”
Alibaba has made investment in Indian start-ups including popular ones like PayTM, Zomato, Big basket, Snapdeal, Xpressbees. Tencent has made mega investments in Indian tech space including $400 million in Ola cabs, $700 million in Flipkart.
SAIC Motor Corporation, a Chinese state-owned automobile company headquartered in Shanghai, sells Sport utility vehicle MG Hector in India. One of the company’s subsidiary is Nanjing Automobile, which was previously a vehicle servicing unit of PLA.
Xinxing Cathay International Group, a metal products manufacturing country, is present in India in various forms including a Joint Venture Xindia Steels Ltd. Employees of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) have been convicted of military espionage and it provides technology which is believed to be used for human rights abuses in the restive western province of Xinjiang in China. The company has invested Rs 320 crores in a manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh in 2018.
India last month banned 59 Chinese apps, including popular Chinese TikTok app, after a violent face-off at Line Of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers martyred.
