International Relations
India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, ending a prolonged five-year freeze that began with the COVID-19 pandemic and was prolonged by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Initially suspended for health safety, the freeze on tourism continued due to escalated bilateral tensions, impacting not only people-to-people contacts but also digital, investment, and diplomatic exchanges.
Until recently, only limited categories such as business, diplomatic, employment, and student visas were being issued. However, a gradual thaw in bilateral ties, marked by high-level interactions such as the 2024 BRICS Summit in Russia where PM Modi and President Xi Jinping held talks, has paved the way for fresh diplomatic recalibration.
The reopening of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route and resumption of direct flights were earlier indicators of this shift. The reintroduction of tourist visas is now viewed as a vital confidence-building step and a cautious revival of trust between the two Asian powers.
Despite this positive development, India-China relations continue to remain delicate, underscored by Premier Li Qiang representing China at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Brazil instead of President Xi. The move reflects measured diplomacy and a strategic balancing act as both countries navigate post-conflict recovery and mutual cooperation.
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