Ban China
The Misinterpretation
If we are using a product by Chinese company, the money is directly going to China. If we are using a Chinese app, then our data is indirectly accessed by the Chinese governments, as all Chinese companies have to share all user data with their government whenever they demand to see it.
Speaking about the second and third point, there is pretty much nothing we can do as consumers. The labour and manufacturing costs in China are the lowest in the world. China is the production hub of the world. It is a fact that it cannot be replaced so easily. We can only compete with them when we have enough infrastructure to manufacture products and sell them at the same rates as China. For that purpose, all other Asian countries who have considerable cheap labour costs and have high availability of labour should unite. All companies would then gladly shift their manufacturing centers out of China.
About the fourth type, there is again pretty much nothing we can do as consumers. Every major app we use in our daily lives has a big Chinese investment in it. Zomato, Ola, Swiggy and even Paytm. We certainly cannot stop using them suddenly until we find a non-Chinese option to replace it. All we can do is to reduce its usage as far as possible.
Government bans 59 Chinese apps...
That's undoubtedly the greatest news for Indians since the beginning of 2020. But just restricting apps won't help. If people don't have an alternative for the apps that are banned, they will eventually try to download it from other illegal sources.
It is banned. But for how long?
No one knows exactly how long this ban will be present. But I say let's all shift to the non-Chinese apps independent of the ban. Lets not use those apps even if the ban is lifted. Reducing the user base of the Chinese apps will be a tremendous blow to the Chinese companies.
‘BAN CHINA’ is all we have been hearing for the last couple of days. But many people have not understood what we are exactly supposed to be doing. There are reports of breaking Chinese TVs, Mobiles or any gadgets from all over the country. That’s certainly not the right way to do it.
The China influence
In this video, he has perfectly explained all the aspects of this situation we are in with China. He has also mentioned which alternatives for Chinese hardware companies. Do watch it!
I am just going to talk about that one point from the video which I think is the answer for the question that has been in everyone’s mind:
What does one exactly mean by Ban China and what we as consumers can do to make it happen?
We can distinguish the China influence between 4 types.
- Chinese Companies - Companies who operate under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government. (Ex - Xiaomi)
- Made in China - Companies out of China which are manufacturing their products in China. (Ex - Apple products are manufactured in China)
- Chinese Parts - Products made with Chinese parts. (Ex - Many companies import spare parts needed for production from China)
- Chinese Investments - Investments by Chinese corporations in non-Chinese startups (Ex - Alibaba Group has a huge share in Paytm which is an Indian company)
If we are using a product by Chinese company, the money is directly going to China. If we are using a Chinese app, then our data is indirectly accessed by the Chinese governments, as all Chinese companies have to share all user data with their government whenever they demand to see it.
Speaking about the second and third point, there is pretty much nothing we can do as consumers. The labour and manufacturing costs in China are the lowest in the world. China is the production hub of the world. It is a fact that it cannot be replaced so easily. We can only compete with them when we have enough infrastructure to manufacture products and sell them at the same rates as China. For that purpose, all other Asian countries who have considerable cheap labour costs and have high availability of labour should unite. All companies would then gladly shift their manufacturing centers out of China.
About the fourth type, there is again pretty much nothing we can do as consumers. Every major app we use in our daily lives has a big Chinese investment in it. Zomato, Ola, Swiggy and even Paytm. We certainly cannot stop using them suddenly until we find a non-Chinese option to replace it. All we can do is to reduce its usage as far as possible.
Government bans 59 Chinese apps...
Indians right now(mostly tiktok haters)
That's undoubtedly the greatest news for Indians since the beginning of 2020. But just restricting apps won't help. If people don't have an alternative for the apps that are banned, they will eventually try to download it from other illegal sources.
My friend has made a nice video suggesting what are the alternatives for the apps that were banned.
Do watch it.
No one knows exactly how long this ban will be present. But I say let's all shift to the non-Chinese apps independent of the ban. Lets not use those apps even if the ban is lifted. Reducing the user base of the Chinese apps will be a tremendous blow to the Chinese companies.
Boycott Software in a week, Hardware in a year!
-Sonam Wangchuk
Nice work Pranav. This information is very useful.
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