India’s move to suspend tourist visas for Chinese nationals could be a payback, here’s how

New Delhi: International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global airlines body, told its member carriers that India has suspended the tourist visas of Chinese nationals.

The decision seems to be a counterstroke to Beijing’s obstruction of India’s request to allow over 20,000 Indian students currently enrolled in various courses in Chinese universities to enter the country in order to pursue their studies.

The country which also share land borders with India has been refusing till now to let Indian students travel back to China in order to continue their education. These students had to abstain from their studies and return back to India during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in year 2020.

“Tourist visas issued to nationals of China (People’s Republic) are no longer valid”, read a circular issued by IATA on April 20.

It further clarifies that nationals of Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Nepal along with those having a residence permit issued by India, visa or an e-visa issued by India, an overseas citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet, persons of Indian origin (PIO) card, and passengers with a diplomatic passport are eligible to enter in India.

Further, the tourist visas with a validity of 10 years are no longer valid as well.

Last month, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “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”.

“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”, he added.