China Visas for Indians: 85k+ Issued Amid Tariff War

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

China significantly increased issuing China visas for Indians in early 2025.
Over 85,000 visas were issued by the Chinese Embassy by April 9, a sharp rise from last year.
Ambassador Xu Feihong invited more Indians to visit China and experience its openness.
This surge occurs amidst the escalating Trump tariff war between the US and China.
China has implemented visa relaxation measures, including easier submission and fee reductions.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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China Boosts Visa Issuance to Indians Amid Trade Tensions

China has significantly ramped up the issuance of China visas for Indians in 2025. This move comes against the backdrop of ongoing trade tensions with the United States, often termed the Trump tariff war. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025. This highlights a major initiative aimed at enhancing people-to-people connections between the two Asian giants. For perspective, a total of 180,000 visas were issued throughout the entire year of 2023. Reaching over 85,000 in just the first four months of 2025 marks a considerable acceleration.

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Ambassador’s Invitation and Visa Process Eased

Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, emphasized this development. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens traveling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.” Ambassador Xu Feihong‘s message underscores a welcoming stance.

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To facilitate this increased travel, the Chinese Embassy updated its visa application requirements last year. Several key visa relaxation measures were introduced. Indian applicants no longer need to secure an online appointment before submitting their visa applications. They can now directly submit them at visa centers on working days. Furthermore, individuals applying for short-term, single or double-entry visas (for stays under 180 days) are exempt from providing biometric data, such as fingerprints. Alongside these procedural changes, the Chinese Embassy also reduced visa application fees. New, lower charges benefit applicants, making travel potentially more affordable.

Context: The Trump Tariff War

China announced these updated visa figures at a critical juncture. US President Donald Trump has intensified warnings of potential trade tariffs targeting numerous countries. His focus has particularly zeroed in on China, a primary trading partner and economic adversary of Washington. Trump has increased US tariffs on Chinese imports significantly, reaching 145 per cent. Simultaneously, he has halted new tariffs on goods from other nations. In retaliation, China imposed its own tariffs, hitting American products with a 125 per cent rate. This ongoing Trump tariff war creates ripples across the global economy. The timing of the visa announcement for Indians could be seen as strategically significant amid the US-China trade dispute.

China Calls for Solidarity with India

In this context, China has actively urged India and other nations to align with it. Beijing seeks opposition to what it describes as “US tariff abuse.” Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, recently articulated this stance. She stated last week that India and China, being the two largest developing countries, should unite against the US tariff actions. In her post on X, Yu Jing said, “China-India economic and trade relationship is based on complementarity and mutual benefit. Facing the US abuse of tariffs… the two largest developing countries should stand together to overcome the difficulties.” The push for more China visas for Indians can be interpreted as part of a broader diplomatic effort to strengthen ties with India during this period of heightened global trade friction.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

Over 85,000 China visas for Indians were issued in the first four months of 2025.
Significant visa relaxation includes no appointments and biometric exemption for certain visas.
This occurs amid the escalating Trump tariff war and US-China trade tensions.
Ambassador Xu Feihong extended an open invitation for Indians to visit China.
China, via spokesperson Yu Jing, calls for India-China unity against US tariff measures.