A week is all it took for Singapore to cower down and plead India to restore the status quo. Yes, a week. A week ago, the Narendra Modi government taking decisive action banned a gaming app called ‘Free Fire’ giving a jolt of whopping $16 billion.
The action was prompted by the heavy involvement of the Chinese in the working of the app and also because the Singaporean PM tried to take the woke way of teaching the Indian government on an international level.
However, as things stand now, the Singaporean government is willing to conduct backdoor dealings to satiate the anger of PM Modi and get the game off the hook. A true diplomatic and business victory for India.
According to a Reuters report, Singapore asked Indian authorities why the app had been targeted in a widening crackdown on Chinese apps, even though Sea has its headquarters in the wealthy city-state.
One of the Indian officials quoted by the publication remarked that Singapore tip-toed by asking if the app “was banned unintentionally,” — suggesting the country’s lawmakers had still not come to the reality of India swiftly banning the app.
While both governments preferred not to talk to the media, Sea Group pleaded its case to foreign publications by stating, “We do not transfer to, or store any data of our Indian users in, China,”
What happened a week ago?
As reported by TFI, a week ago, the Singaporean Prime Minister was found complaining about a decline in India’s democratic polity from “Nehru’s India”. The left-liberal ecosystem soon claimed that Lee was genuinely interested in India’s democratic system. But as it turns out he was invoking Nehru only because Prime Minister Modi gave him a $16 billion jolt by banning the aforementioned game ‘Free Fire’.
Reportedly, India under its routine assessment banned 54 Chinese apps, amidst deteriorating Sino- India ties. The ban was announced due to security concerns about those apps in New Delhi.
Free Fire — an app with significant Chinese investments.
India is the largest market for Free Fire and one of its premium versions, Free Fire MAX. For India however, even a trace of Chinese presence is a big turn off. So, this app came in the middle of the crossfire between India and China.
And when a huge internet market like India bans an app, the consequences are generally severe. The ‘Free Fire’ ban has led to the Sea Group losing $16 billion immediately as the plummeting market share ascertained.
Sea Group is now worried about a spillover effect. It fears more such bans by India on its other services with Chinese investments. On the other hand, investors too are spooked and could pull their money out of the Singaporean company.
What did the Singaporean PM say?
In his 40-minute speech, Lee said, “Things start off with passionate intensity. The leaders, who fought for and won independence, are often exceptional individuals of great courage, immense culture, and outstanding ability. They came through the crucible of fire and emerged as leaders of men and nations. They are the David Ben-Gurions, the Jawaharlal Nehrus, and we have our own too.”
The last batch of Chinese Apps that India banned also featured a Singaporean app (with significant Chinese investments). It was a game called ‘Free Fire’. The company lost $16 Billion immediately.
Now the Singaporean PM is invoking Nehru.
Amusing.
— Atul Kumar Mishra (@TheAtulMishra) February 17, 2022
The Singaporean PM added, “Nehru’s India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder. Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated.”
India is the next big thing in gaming
As reported previously by TFI, the Indian gaming sector, still in its infancy is generating revenues worth $1.5 billion. In 2025, total revenue is expected to be worth $5billion.
Read more: The future of gaming is in India
Varying estimates suggest that currently, India has 1,50,000 professional gamers. These gamers bring in more than 17 million viewers’ with them. Online gamers in India are estimated to grow from 360 million in 2020 to 510 million in 2022.
Thus, no one wants to miss the bus of the Indian gaming industry. Free Fire, despite being popular has seen its fortunes go down the drain, primarily due to the Chinese and its political class being narrow in its thought process. This is Modi’s India and it doesn’t tolerate a Singaporean business with Chinese investment.