In a significant move toward restoring bilateral ties, India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a five-year suspension, its embassy in Beijing announced on Wednesday, according to Chinese state media.
Starting Friday, Chinese citizens can apply for tourist visas to visit India, the Indian Embassy said in a notice posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
This marks the first time since 2020 that India has reopened tourist visa services for Chinese travelers — a suspension that followed the sharp deterioration of relations after border clashes in the Himalayas.
Tensions between the two Asian giants escalated on May 5, 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in aggressive face-offs and skirmishes along the disputed border, especially in the Ladakh region. The standoff culminated in the deadly Galwan Valley clash on June 15, 2020, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers — the most serious military conflict between the two nations in over 40 years.
In the aftermath, New Delhi froze most high-level diplomatic exchanges and significantly curtailed travel and visa services for Chinese nationals.
Now, with tourist visas once again being issued, both sides appear to be cautiously signaling a willingness to move past the deep freeze in relations.
“We have noted this positive move. Making cross-border travel easier serves the common interest of all parties,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news conference in Beijing. He added, “China stands ready to maintain communication and coordination with India to keep facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.”
Despite the resumption of visa services, direct commercial flights between India and China remain suspended, underscoring the gradual and limited nature of the thaw.
Nevertheless, analysts say the move could be a step toward broader normalization, especially if followed by increased diplomatic engagement and confidence-building measures along the contested border.
