India has suspended Chinese tourist visas in retaliation for not allowing Indian students studying at various Chinese universities to return. On Saturday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) informed its members of the Indian decision.
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About 22,000 students who have returned to India due to the coronavirus epidemic, studying at various Chinese universities, have not been able to return to China without Beijing’s permission. New Delhi has taken steps to issue visas to Chinese tourists after Chinese authorities refused to allow Indian students to return.
The Indian students returned from China after the coronavirus epidemic began in early 2020. A statement issued by the IATA on April 20
said that tourist visas issued to Chinese citizens are no longer valid.
It says citizens of Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal who have Indian residency permits; Holders of Indian Issued Visa or E-Visa, Holders of Foreign Citizenship Cards or Booklets of India, Holders of Indian Descent (PIO) Card and Holders of Diplomatic Passports will be allowed to enter India.
The IATA has said that the 10-year Indian tourist visa is no longer valid. The international airline IATA has 290 members worldwide. Its member airlines operate more than 70 percent of the world’s flights. Those who cannot travel to India using e-tourist visas include citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada. However, citizens of Japan and the United States will be exempt from the ban.
According to the Times of India, Beijing has refused to allow Indian students to return, despite allowing students from Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to return. The issue was raised by Chinese Foreign Minister S Jayashankar during his visit to India last month. But Beijing has so far taken no action.
