Cautious Courtesies

India's move to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year freeze is not just a bureaucratic gesture – it is a diplomatic signal.

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While the wounds from Galwan have not healed, the opening of the visa window suggests that both countries are testing the waters of reconciliation, albeit slowly and with measured caution. The 2020 border clash marked one of the lowest points in India-China relations in decades. Military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) froze not just defence engagement but also trade dynamics, investment flow, and people-to-people contact. China's apps were banned, investments were scrutinised, and visa services suspended. The suspension of tourist visas was not merely a response to pandemic-era caution; it was a firm political statement. Yet, over the past year, diplomatic signals have changed in tone. India and China have engaged in high-level meetings. Indian and Chinese leaders met on the sidelines of global summits, and beh