economy and politics

China and India agree to resume direct commercial flights after five years of interruption

China and India have agreed to resume direct commercial flights for the first time in five years, in the midst of a moment of relief of tensions that have historically marked their relationship. The resumption of direct flights between the two most populated countries in the world, which were suspended at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemia in 2020, marks a significant advance in the recovery of bilateral ties, which had been affected by political challenges and border.

The agreement was announced on Monday, January 27, when India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in Beijing. In a joint statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India confirmed that both nations had reached a consensus “in principle” to resume direct flights, although the officials of both countries are expected to resolve the logistics details at a nearby date.

The announcement also included an additional agreement: the Chinese government will reopen Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, located in the Tibet, to the Indian pilgrims. These destinations are considered of great religious importance for the Hindu, Buddhist, Jainist and Bon communities, and their access had been restricted in recent years due to border tensions. The reopening of these sites is seen as a significant gesture to promote mutual understanding and cultural cooperation between the two nations.

A complex context

Although the resumption of direct flights is a positive development, the process until reaching this agreement has not been easy. The flights between India and China were suspended in early 2020 due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but the underlying problems began much earlier.

In 2020, months after the suspension of flights, the armed forces of both countries faced a violent confrontation in the disputed border in the Himalayas, an episode that left at least 20 Indian soldiers and four dead Chinese. This confrontation resurrected the old tensions between the two countries, exacerbated by the lack of a clear definition of the current control line (LAC), the de facto border that divides the two countries into the Himalayan region.

Despite military tensions, diplomatic conversations between India and China have never stopped. The efforts to descale the situation have continued, including a process of decoupling troops and an agreement on military patrols on the border. However, friction points in other areas have persisted, complicating cooperation between the two countries.

2025 prospective scenarios on tensions in the South China Sea

Enthusiasm in social networks

The announcement of the flight resumption agreement has generated a positive response both in China and India, especially on social media platforms. In Weibo, a very popular Chinese platform, several users expressed their joy for the news. An Internet user shared his experience of having bought a plane ticket from India in February 2020, just to see how his flight and visa were canceled due to the pandemic. “The wait lasted five years … I must go to India,” he wrote in his publication.

This agreement has also aroused the interest of those who expect to attend important cultural events in India, such as the Holi Festival. This popular festival, known as the “Colors Festival”, is one of the most vibrant celebrations in the country, in which thousands of people throw colored powders and participate in huge water fights. “Is there the possibility of attending Holi in March?” Asked a Weibo user.

Persistent doubts about the viability of the agreement

Despite optimism, not everyone is convinced that the resumption of direct flights is a definitive solution for the relationship between the two countries. Some Internet users in China expressed doubts about the viability of this agreement and pointed out that, although a consensus “in principle” has been reached, all practical details have not yet been resolved.

From the political and diplomatic point of view, the agreement represents an important advance, but the relationship between the two countries remains complex.

Source link

About the author

Redaction TLN

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment