The relationship between India and China has been marked by controversy, primarily due to the practice of issuing stapled visas and territorial disputes. This article will shed light on the concept of stapled visas, China’s unilateral claim to Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, and the subsequent withdrawal of India’s athletes from an international competition in Chengdu.
The Incident at Summer World University Games
An eight-athlete ‘Wushu’ martial arts contingent from India was recently withdrawn from the Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China. The decision was a response to China’s issuance of stapled visas to three members of the Indian team who hail from Arunachal Pradesh.
An Overview of Stapled Visas
A stapled visa manifests as an unstamped piece of paper pinned or stapled to a passport as opposed to regular visas which are directly stamped on the passport. This practice came into existence around 2005, with China persisting in this customary approach for residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Although these visas are considered valid by China, India does not accept them as authentic travel documents.
The Basis of the Visa Dispute: Territorial Claim
China disputes the sovereignty India maintains over Arunachal Pradesh and challenges the credibility of the McMahon Line, a boundary agreed upon in the Simla Convention of 1914. This ongoing debate over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the epicentre of Chinese territorial claims leading to frequent transgressions into Indian territory.
China’s Unilateral Claims and Its Impact on India’s Sovereignty
China lays claim to approximately 90,000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh, labelling it as “Zangnan” or “South Tibet” on Chinese maps. Through the issuance of stapled visas to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, China attempts to undermine India’s sovereignty over these regions. These actions are seen as challenges to India’s control and authority over its own territory.
Implications and Dilemmas of Stapled Visas
Stapled visas bring confusion for travellers due to their inconsistent validity and acceptance. India has consistently rejected the validity of these visas and protested against their issuance. The issuing of stapled visas intensifies diplomatic tensions between India and China, complicating bilateral relations.
Conclusion
The current conflict culminating from China’s use of stapled visas is a clear manifestation of its intent to assert territorial claims over areas it considers disputed. This poses significant challenges to India’s sovereignty and causes a setback in the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
