Of course not. That was just coincidental timing, and a popular move politically at that time.

Because if Chinese apps were so dangerous, why haven't other Chinese apps been banned since, or why have Chinese smartphones continued to prolifer in the Indian market since?

India's trade with China has only increased since then. Yet somehow, TikTok was the first casualty - and nothing since.

It was an Indian response to a Chinese provocation. But you’re not very familiar with Indian matters if you think there have been no further Indian responses.

Banning apps is one thing. Military exercises with America, Japan and Australia is another. A state visit by the Indian PM to America where defence deals were struck is yet another. All of these responses hurt China’s interests.

It’s quite simplistic to think that app banning is the only thing a country can do.

Also, you might not understand this but it’s easy to replace Chinese apps, so it only hurts the Chinese companies and not Indian consumers. It’s harder to replace physical goods overnight because that would increase prices and decrease choice for Indian consumers. That’s why it hasn’t happened.

>Chinese smartphones

Find me a smartphone that isn’t made in china.

There's "made in China", and there's "based out of China, headed by Chinese nationals, and owned by Chinese nationals". All of India's top selling brands (OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo) fit into the latter category.