In a significant development, China has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in the first few months of 2025—reflecting a notable increase compared to previous years.
This surge in visa approvals, confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in India, comes at a time when geopolitical tensions between China and the United States are escalating due to rising trade tariffs. Between January 1 and April 9, more than 8,500 visas were granted, contributing to the overall tally.
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Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong shared the update via social media platform X, inviting more Indian travelers to experience what he described as China’s “vibrant, sincere, and welcoming environment.”
This sharp rise in visas indicates a major shift from previous years. To put it in perspective, only 180,000 visas were issued to Indian nationals in the entirety of 2023. Now, with nearly half that number issued within the first quarter of 2025 alone, the upward trend is clear.
This increase aligns with Beijing’s efforts to deepen people-to-people connectivity and enhance diplomatic ties with India. Part of this outreach included a set of relaxed visa regulations introduced in late 2023. Indian applicants are no longer required to schedule online appointments and can walk in directly to visa centers. Additionally, short-term visa applicants (for up to 180 days) are now exempt from biometric submissions, and visa fees have been reduced to make travel more accessible.
These policy changes reflect China’s strategic goal to encourage more travel and exchanges with Indian nationals, reinforcing its broader diplomatic aims.
The move also arrives against the backdrop of growing friction between China and the United States over trade. U.S. President Donald Trump recently increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent, prompting Beijing to impose a retaliatory 125 percent tariff on American goods.
In this context, China is looking to rally support from other nations, including India. A spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, Yu Jing, emphasized that both countries—as major developing economies—should work together to challenge Washington’s aggressive tariff stance.
“China and India enjoy a complementary trade relationship. In confronting unfair U.S. tariffs, these two influential nations must show solidarity,” Yu stated on X.
This renewed outreach to India underscores Beijing’s intent to pivot toward stronger regional cooperation amid shifting global power dynamics.
