The Indian government has informally asked its airlines to not fly Chinese nationals into the country. The move comes as a reaction to China's action to stop Indians from flying into their country.
Due to the flight suspension between both the countries, Chinese citizens who are eligible to travel according to rules for foreigners, have been doing it through the other way. They first fly to the country that has a travel bubble with India and from the travel bubble country they travel to India.
The Indian government has specifically asked airlines to not fly Chinese nationals to India. At the moment tourist visas remain suspended but foreigners are travelling to India through work and various other categories of non-tourist visas.
Some airlines have asked the government for a written document so that they would be able to present it as a reason for denying tickets to Chinese citizens who have booked them following the current norms.
The Chinese embassy in India had said in its statement released on November 5 on its website that, "The Chinese embassy/consulates in India will not stamp the health declaration forms for the holders of the above-mentioned categories of visa or residence permits," Chinese embassy in India had said in a statement on its website on November 5, while exempting some categories of visa holders like diplomats.
"The entry into China with visas issued after November 3, 2020 is not affected… suspension is a temporary measurement that China has to adopt to deal with the current pandemic. China will make further adjustment and announcement in accordance with the ongoing pandemic situation in a timely manner," reads the statement.
India's response has come in a scenario when China is refusing to allow Indian seafarers on shore who are stranded in various Chinese ports.
The action will affect around 1,500 Indians who are serving on international flag merchant vessels and they can't even come back now.
