India and China have reached an agreement to resume flights between the two countries after a nearly five-year hiatus. The suspension of flights, which was not widely publicized, stemmed from tensions that arose following a deadly border clash in 2020. The Indian foreign ministry announced that negotiations for a framework on resuming flights would begin soon, following discussions between India’s top diplomat Vikram Misri and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
According to Reuters, “Following a meeting on Monday in Beijing between India’s top diplomat Vikram Misri and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, India’s foreign ministry said that both sides would negotiate a framework on the flights’ resumption at an ‘early date.'”
The cessation of flights was part of broader measures by India to distance itself economically from China. This included restrictions on Chinese investments and visas, as well as bans on numerous Chinese apps. Bloomberg reported that these actions were taken by “[Indian] Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government” in response to the 2020 border conflict.
While there were over 5,000 direct flights between India and China in 2019, this number dropped to zero during the pandemic. Despite the agreement to restart flights, it remains uncertain whether India will ease visa restrictions for Chinese nationals. The Indian government has been slow in issuing visas to Chinese citizens, with only about 2,000 visas granted in 2024.
China’s foreign ministry expressed optimism about resuming cooperation with India. Reuters noted that “China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that flights would resume,” emphasizing mutual support over suspicion.
Jim O’Neill, former Goldman Sachs chief economist who coined the term BRICs, commented on the ongoing rivalry between India and China within this economic bloc. He stated: “I will take the BRICS group seriously when I see signs that the two countries that really matter – China and India – are actually really trying to agree on things.”
Despite the recent diplomatic progress regarding flight resumption, India’s strategic concerns about China’s regional influence remain significant. The country is strengthening its ties with the United States and reducing its reliance on Russian military equipment.
