The call to boycott Chinese products in India peaked after the Galwan Valley clash of June 2020. Six years on, the government’s app bans and investment curbs have had a clear effect, but consumer boycotts did not stop Chinese brands from leading India’s smartphone market, and trade with China has kept growing.
This explainer looks at what triggered the movement, what the government actually did, what changed for buyers and where India-China relations stand in October 2026. For more explainers on money and markets, see our finance section.
Why the boycott began
On 15 June 2020, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed, the first deaths in combat on the border in decades. Public anger was immediate, and calls to boycott Chinese goods spread on social media, in trader associations and in political speeches.
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Some people smashed Chinese-made televisions on camera, and trader bodies announced campaigns to stop selling Chinese goods. The mood was strong, but the question was always whether a slogan could change buying habits in a market where Chinese components and brands were everywhere.
What the government did
The official response focused on technology and investment rather than consumer goods. The key steps were:
- App bans: On 29 June 2020, the government blocked 59 Chinese-linked apps, including TikTok, citing national security. More bans followed through 2020, including PUBG Mobile, taking the total past 200 apps.
- Investment screening: In April 2020, a rule known as Press Note 3 made government approval mandatory for foreign investment from countries that share a land border with India, which effectively covered China.
- Manufacturing push: Production-linked incentive schemes were expanded to encourage local manufacturing of phones, electronics and other goods.
- Tighter scrutiny: Enforcement agencies examined the finances of several Chinese phone companies operating in India.
Did buyers actually stop buying Chinese?
Not in a big way. Market trackers reported that Chinese brands held about three-quarters of India’s smartphone market in the July to September 2020 quarter, only weeks after Galwan. Brands such as Vivo, Xiaomi, Oppo, realme and OnePlus have remained among the top sellers in the years since.
The reasons were practical. Chinese brands offered strong features at lower prices, and many of their phones were already assembled in India, which blurred the line between “Chinese” and “Indian”. At the same time, even phones sold by Indian or other foreign brands often used Chinese-made parts such as screens, batteries and chips.
Trade numbers tell the same story
Trade data has moved in the opposite direction from the slogans. China remains one of India’s two largest trading partners, and India’s imports from China continue to be far larger than its exports. The trade deficit with China was close to $100 billion in 2024-25, according to Commerce Ministry figures reported by leading newspapers.
Much of this trade is in electronics, machinery, chemicals, solar equipment and pharmaceutical ingredients. Indian factories depend on these inputs, including those making goods for export, so cutting them off quickly would hurt Indian industry first.
Where India-China ties stand in 2026
Relations have thawed since late 2024. In October 2024, India announced an agreement with China on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control, which opened the way for disengagement at the remaining friction points.
In 2025, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights, India restarted tourist visas for Chinese citizens in July, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed after a five-year gap. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping in Tianjin in 2025 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where both called for the countries to be partners rather than rivals.
None of this ended India’s security concerns. The app bans have stayed in place, and investment from China still needs government approval.
What worked and what did not
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Consumer boycott calls | Short-lived, little impact on phone sales |
| App bans | Lasting, TikTok and others still blocked |
| Press Note 3 investment rule | Slowed Chinese investment in Indian start-ups |
| Manufacturing incentives | More phones made in India, but still with imported parts |
The way forward: beyond slogans
Most economists agree that reducing dependence on any one country takes years of steady work, not a hashtag. That means building component manufacturing at home, improving infrastructure and power supply, supporting research, and signing trade deals with a wider set of partners.
For buyers, the honest position is simple. Choosing an Indian-made product is a personal decision, and it makes the most difference when the product is genuinely competitive on price and quality. Policy, not pressure on shoppers, is what has moved the needle so far. You can follow related tech stories in our technology section.
Further reading: Canalys, China., Australia,.
Frequently asked questions
When did the boycott Chinese products movement start?
Calls had appeared earlier, but the movement grew sharply after the Galwan Valley clash on 15 June 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
Is TikTok still banned in India?
Yes. TikTok was among the 59 apps blocked on 29 June 2020, and the ban remains in place.
Did the boycott reduce Chinese phone sales in India?
Not significantly. Chinese brands continued to hold most of India’s smartphone market after 2020, according to market research firms.
Have India and China improved relations?
Yes, partly. Since late 2024 they have agreed on border patrolling and resumed direct flights, tourist visas and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Sources: China-India relations (Wikipedia), 2020 China-India skirmishes (Wikipedia), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
