A Chinese Pitch For Direct Flights Between India And China
The Chinese Embassy has publicly advocated for the resumption of direct flights between India and China, a request the Indian government has so far declined. A social media post from the official X handle of the Chinese Embassy’s Spokesperson in India highlighted a video by Chinese media questioning India’s distancing from China.
“Share a video clip made by a Chinese media based on their research and data sources. They cannot help but ask: why is India distancing itself from China?,” the post read. The X post is accompanied with a video report from a Chinese media.
As of now, India has not officially responded to the Chinese appeal.
Share a video clip made by a Chinese media based on their research and data sources. They cannot help but ask: why is India distancing itself from China? pic.twitter.com/asTNF5quZC
— Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India (@ChinaSpox_India) July 25, 2024
In December 2019, there were 539 direct passenger flights connecting India and China. Airlines like IndiGo and Air India flew to China, while Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines linked Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to Indian cities. However, these flights were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and following border clashes in June 2020, which led to a prolonged military standoff.
Due to the absence of direct flights, India-China travellers including tourists and businessmen between the two countries must now rely on connecting flights through countries such as Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore, adding both time and cost to their journeys. According to some reports, the visitors travel via West Asia, making the journey much longer.
A Reuters report last month indicated that China has been pressing India to restart direct flights after a four-year hiatus. However, India is reportedly resisting due to ongoing border disputes. India’s foreign ministry has emphasised that peace on the border is essential for normalising relations between the two nations.
