China says it will issue visas in India, makes it impossible to get

The Chinese embassy statement suggested the Chinese-vaccine rule - the embassy called it “facilitating measures” - was applicable for people intending to travel to China for business, work or to meet relatives.

Beijing will start issuing visas to foreigners who need to travel to China but only after they have taken a Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine, a statement by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi said on Tuesday. The rule, however, will not make it any easier for Indians to get visas since New Delhi has not approved use of China-made vaccines in the country. Also, there are no direct flights between the two countries.

FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed China flag (REUTERS) (REUTERS)

The statement suggested the Chinese-vaccine rule - the embassy called it “facilitating measures” - was applicable for people intending to travel to China for business, work or to meet relatives.

The Chinese embassy statement did not specify whether the easing of the process applies to students: The largest chunk of Indians – more than 22,000 students – are stranded in their home country as China is yet to allow foreign students back into the country. Or if Beijing is in talks with New Delhi to make its vaccines available as the Chinese embassy or consulates cannot offer the vaccines in India without authorisation from the Indian government.

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The new provisions come at a time China has been promoting its vaccine shots across the world. It has administered 65 million vaccine doses at home and has been pushing its vaccine in emerging economies.

But given the lack of transparency about the clinical trial data of its vaccines, Beijing has found the response from many countries to be less than enthusiastic. China has, however, been more successful in introducing its vaccines in Africa and Latin America, a Bloomberg report said.

Asked if China would consider accepting WHO-approved vaccines also, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters on Monday that foreign vaccine producers could file a request with the authorities concerned in China for a decision. So far, China has not allowed vaccines made in other countries to be used in the country.

The China-made vaccine provision in the visa regulations comes against the backdrop of the United States, India, Australia and Japan announcing an ambitious plan to distribute vaccines in Asia under the Vaccine Initiative signed off by leaders of the four countries under the aegis of Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

The four Quad countries on Friday decided to pool their financial resources, manufacturing capacities and logistical strengths to ramp up manufacture and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines across the region as part of efforts to boost post-pandemic recovery.

The US development bank will assist India’s Biological E to produce one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to be rolled out by the end of 2022.