India suspends tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals: IATA

In a tit-for-tat move, India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals, according to reports on Sunday (April 24).

Global airlines body International Air Transport Association (IATA) has told about India’s move in a circular dated April 20 to its member airlines.

In the circular regarding India, the IATA said, “Tourist visas issued to nationals of China (People’s Republic) are no longer valid.”

It said the following passengers are allowed to enter India: nationals of Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal; passengers with a residence permit issued by India; passengers with visa or an e-visa issued by India; passengers with an overseas citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet; passengers with a persons of Indian origin (PIO) card; and passengers with a diplomatic passport.

The IATA also said that tourist visas with a validity of 10 years are no longer valid.

India’s decision appeared to be a response to China stonewalling New Delhi’s appeals about approximately 22,000 Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities who are unable to go back for physical classes. The neighbouring country has till date refused to let them enter.

Also read: Number of Indian students in US rose 12%; those from China dipped 8%

These students had to leave their studies in China and come to India when the COVID-19 pandemic began at the start of 2020.

On March 25, during their talks in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

“I took up strongly the predicament of Indian students studying in China who have not been allowed to return, citing Covid restrictions. We hope that China will take a non-discriminatory approach since it involves the future of so many young people,” Jaishankar said.

“Minister Wang Yi assured me that he would speak to the relevant authorities on his return on this matter. He also recognised the particular concerns that medical students have in this difficult situation,” he added.

India has urged Beijing to adopt a “congenial stance” in the matter as the continuation of the strict restrictions is putting the academic careers of thousands of Indian students in jeopardy, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said on March 17.

Bagchi said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson had stated on February 8 that China was looking into the matter in a coordinated manner and that arrangements for allowing foreign students to return to China were being examined.

“But let me clarify that till date, the Chinese side has not given any categorical response about the return of Indian students. We will continue to urge the Chinese side to adopt a congenial stance in the interest of our students and that they facilitate an early return to China so that our students can pursue their studies,” Bagchi said.

(With inputs from Agencies)