India Lifts Long Visa Freeze On Chinese Tourists Ahead Of PM Modi's Likely Visit

In yet another sign that ties with Beijing are slowly returning to normal, India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a suspension of more than five years. 

The move comes shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s landmark visit to China, his first since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that left 20 Indian soldiers and dozens of Chinese troops dead. China officially acknowledged only four fatalities.

The Indian Embassy in Beijing announced on Wednesday (23 July) that Chinese citizens can apply for tourist visas starting this week.

India had initially suspended tourist visas for Chinese nationals in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even as international travel resumed elsewhere, the restrictions remained in place amid the prolonged border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

In his meetings, Jaishankar emphasised that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains a prerequisite for restoring broader strategic trust between the two countries.

The decision to resume tourist visas also comes ahead of an anticipated visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China, his first since the 2020 face-off, as both nations move cautiously to re-engage after years of confrontation and mistrust.

Last month, the two countries also resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indian pilgrims, another key confidence-building measure.

Since the disengagement of troops from friction points along the LAC in October last year, New Delhi and Beijing have been gradually exploring ways to de-escalate tensions. While deep-rooted strategic differences remain, the recent diplomatic overtures suggest a cautious effort to put the bilateral relationship back on a more stable footing.