{
  "id": 5289767,
  "title": "India stalls Alipay+ payments link over, data worries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/india-stalls-alipay-payments-link-over-data-worries",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-03T08:55:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/india-stalls-alipay-payments-link-over-security-data-concerns-sources-say/articleshow/133731033.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India has suspended Alipay+'s proposal to connect its cross-border payments system with the country's instant payment network, UPI, due to national security concerns and worries about customer data handling, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The initiative, introduced by Alipay+ in January, marked the first such move by a China-linked entity in India's financial services industry, occurring amidst decreasing tensions between the two nations following a deadly border clash in 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit is seen as an attempt to strengthen ties.\n\nIndia's apprehensions revolve around China's ties to Alipay+, data security risks, and the potential misuse of consumer information. The government's concerns have been corroborated by the country's external affairs, finance, home affairs, Reserve Bank of India, National Payments Corporation of India, and Alipay+ itself, though no one from these entities commented on the matter. Alipay+ is a Singapore-based fintech firm, a separate entity from China's Ant Group, which spun off in 2024.\n\nThe proposal, if approved, would have enabled Indian travelers in China, Hong Kong, and other Asian regions to make payments at over 150 million merchants in Alipay+'s network. The second phase would have allowed international visitors to use Alipay+ within India. However, Indian authorities have cited political reasons for the delay, with no clear resolution in sight. Law enforcement agencies have expressed concerns over potential money laundering and cyberfraud risks, while transaction data management and dispute resolution processes are subject to heightened scrutiny for China-linked entities. Despite recent relaxation of restrictions on Chinese investments following the 2020 border dispute, India continues to exercise tight control over its financial services sector.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}