Google removes app that claimed to detect Chinese apps on Indian phones – CNN

"Remove China Apps" was not available on the Google Play Store on Wednesday, a little over two weeks after it launched with the assurance that it could help Indians identify apps made by Chinese developers.

Anti-Chinese sentiment has been rising in India in recent weeks as the two countries feud over a border dispute.

Remove China Apps was downloaded more than 4 million times before it was taken down, according to analytics company Sensor Tower. In India, nearly 160,000 users gave the app a 5-star rating on the Play Store before it was taken down.

But it was not entirely successful in detecting apps from Chinese developers, according to some users.

On Tuesday, user Sridhar Toopurani wrote in a review of the app that "while the concept is good ... it did not detect MI Video, Helo etc."

The incident, at a remote, mountainous crossing close to Tibet, was the latest in a long line of border flare-ups between the neighboring powers, and has fueled a fresh round of anti-China sentiment in India.

Sonam Wangchuk, an education reformer who was also the inspiration for a popular movie character in India, asked fellow Indians to boycott all things Chinese in response to the border standoff.

He shared a video on YouTube last week, urging Indian citizens to stop buying Chinese goods, to "use your wallet power ... and stop virtually financing the current military bullying." The video has been viewed more than 3.7 million times.

Actor Arshad Warsi addressed his 2.2 million followers on Twitter, saying he is "consciously going to stop using everything that is Chinese."

"As they are a part of most of the things we use, it will take time but I know, one day I'll be Chinese free. You should try it too," he added.

The Remove China App caught the attention of Chinese state-run tabloid The Global Times.

Tensions between the two countries are escalating, but they also have a longstanding business relationship.

Chinese investors have also poured a lot of money into some of India's buzziest tech startups.

Vedika Sud contributed to this report.

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Google removes app that claimed to detect Chinese apps on Indian phones - CNN