US Secretary Mike Pompeo hails India for banning 59 Chinese apps

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday commended India for banning 59 Chinese apps including TikTok citing a serious security risk even as he launched a scathing attack on China, saying that Beijing cannot threaten countries and "bully them in the Himalayas".

Pompeo said, "India has a chance to divert global supply chains away from China and reduce reliance on Chinese companies in areas like telecom, medical supplies and others. India is in this position because it has earned the trust of many nations including the US." Pompeo was addressing the India Ideas Summit. In a reference to the India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbours and blamed it for instigating the deadly confrontation with India in eastern Ladakh.

He also referred to the recent clashes initiated by China's PLA calling them examples of the Communist Party of China's "unacceptable behaviour". He also expressed condolences on the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan valley clash.

We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. (IANS)

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