China has pledged to provide consular protection and assistance to two Chinese employees of smartphone maker Vivo who were recently arrested by Indian authorities.
The foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, emphasised China’s firm support for Chinese companies in safeguarding their lawful rights and interests. He urged India not to discriminate against Chinese companies and expressed the Chinese government’s close monitoring of the situation.
Last week, India’s financial crime-fighting agency arrested two senior employees of Vivo’s India unit. Vivo has vowed to challenge the legal basis of the arrests.
The two employees were presented in a Delhi court on Saturday and placed in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate. The identities of the arrested individuals remain unconfirmed by Reuters, but they are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
This development comes two months after the Enforcement Directorate arrested four industry executives, including a Chinese national, associated with Vivo’s Indian unit in a case involving alleged money laundering. The company has consistently denied these charges.
