A technology war between neighbors
India and China seemed to be caught up in a war over technology. As technology drives geopolitics it is establishing a new status quo. Today technology is the first way nations react to incidents around the world. It is a paradigm change from the past where governments have concentrated on oil or trade.
The beginning of the India and China tech war can be seen when India blocked common Chinese apps. Amongst those blocked were Chinese social platforms TikTok and WeChat. Moreover, the Indian government is also questioning if Huawei and ZTE will be barred from developing their 5G (fifth generation) telecoms network. This competitiveness, however, does not seem to bother China, as much as India would have liked.
What could be next?
Furthermore, analysts argue that if India really decided to harm China, it should have hit the consumer goods firms. Those businesses are China\’s national pride. From Oppo to Vivo to Xiaomi to Haier to Lenovo. They are the ones who create the \”software force\” for China. As well as being the modern global footprint for Beijing. Each of those businesses ranks India as their biggest international market.
Hence, the first attack by India sent out a warning. It was something of a tactical attack.
Why did India not attack certain products companies?
The explanation for this is that India is deliberately opting for incremental escalation. It had to retaliate for the death of its soldiers during the border clash, but it didn\’t want to launch an all-out economic war with China. Additionally, if India retaliates exponentially, China might do the same. Including baring shipments of generic products or car parts to India. Instantly disrupting India\’s pharmaceutical and automobile industries.
How will China react?
China could hurt Indian information technology firms such as Infosys, TCS, and Wipro. Both of these companies are spending in China. Moreover, China could force the firm out of the country. It could even prosecute key India executives staying in China.
Similarly, China could also tell its venture capital firms not to recruit Indian talent. Skilled people in India and China will become pawns. Thus, the tech war could become a war for talent.
Third, in technology geopolitics, China might activate \”nuclear options.\” It could, literally, use geo-engineering to change the climate in India. China is now working on a huge rainfall raising scheme in Tibet. China is constructing infrastructure three times the scale of Spain. Tibet is India \’s principal source of water. Via geo-engineering, China could begin controlling the water supplies of India.
