India has given a befitting reply to China, asking all its airlines to ban the travel of Chinese nationals to India. The government has informally given these instructions. The move has been taken when Dragon imposed similar restrictions on Indians in November. This is being seen as the answer to China.
Currently, flights between India and China are suspended. Chinese citizens eligible to travel according to current norms for foreigners are first traveling to a third country with which India has entered into an air bubble agreement. From here they are traveling to India. Chinese citizens living in such countries are coming to India from there for work and business.
According to a report, at the end of last week, both Indian and foreign airlines have been specifically asked not to send Chinese nationals to India. Currently, tourist visas are suspended in India. However, foreigners are allowed to travel at work and in some other categories of non-tourist visas. Sources say that most of the Chinese citizens flying in India come from European countries with an air bubbles.
Some airlines have asked the authorities to give in writing so that they can give a reason for refusing Chinese citizens booking for coming to India as per the current norms. India has taken this step at a time when Indian seafarers are stranded in various Chinese ports.
China is refusing to allow them to shore or even replace the crew. This has affected about 1,500 Indians serving on international merchant ships as they cannot return home. In early November, China suspended the entry of foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas or residence permits from some countries, including India, due to the epidemic.