China has warned India of repercussions in business and has threatened the possibility of being replaced by other Southeast Asian markets “if the boiling nationalist sentiment continues unchecked in India”.
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China’s state-run newspaper, Global Times (GT) which runs at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party has warned that the growing anti-China sentiment in India following the Himalayan brawl at the border in Ladakh may harm the business ties between both the Asian economic giants.
https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1273878192625979393
“If the boiling nationalist sentiment continues unchecked in India, it may lead to serious consequences in extreme cases, which would only weaken that market’s appeal to the outside world, making it easier to be replaced with other Southeast Asian markets,” writes the Chinese daily.
India’s anti-China sentiment
Post the violent border clashes in the Galwan valley of Ladakh where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives to Chinese troops, the Indian countrymen stood up in nationalistic fervour against China by launching a campaign to boycott Chinese products.
Indian netizens trended hashtags like #HindiCheeniByeBye, #MadeInIndia and #BharatVsChina on Twitter and made repetitive calls for the absolute boycott of Chinese goods and rather opt for domestic brands.
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had previously led a campaign called “Vocal for Local”, however, experts believe that it was not even remotely connected to the latest situation with China.
The Smartphone Scenario
On Wednesday, the Chinese Smartphone giant Oppo cancelled the live stream launch of its flagship 5G smartphone in India amidst the intensifying calls for boycotting Chinese goods in the nation.
In India, 4 of the top 5 players in the Smartphone business are Chinese brands. While Xiaomi remains at the top position conquering almost a third of the market, Oppo stands at fifth position and has shipped about 3.5 million devices in the first quarter of 2020.
“In order to ensure the safety of their capital and personnel, it is essential for Chinese companies to take precautions for a worst-case scenario and consider placing their India investment and production plans on hold until the border crisis between the two neighbours is resolved,” advises the GT to Chinese manufacturing giants.
However, OnePlus, another China-based smartphone maker with prices higher than the top five selling brands witnessed its latest model being sold rapidly in India on Thursday, despite the repeated calls for a boycott.
Indian Government at the rescue?
While maintaining the warning for India to quit the anti-China fever, the GT goes on to ask the Indian government to “offer the necessary protection for all Chinese personnel, as well as all Chinese businesses and their assets in the country.”
Earlier in 2017, Indians had destroyed some mobile outlets to showcase their support for Indian army amidst similar troubles with China at the border.
The GT presses the “people to show rationality in the face of the border tension so as to maintain the stability of bilateral economic and trade ties.”
Meanwhile, it continues to clear the air about repercussions as, it says that “But if they (Indian government) fails, then it would also be the people who will bear the negative outcomes, and, Indians may suffer more losses than their Chinese neighbours.”
