In touch with China to facilitate 'essential travel', says New Delhi as Beijing bars travel from India

The Indian government is in touch with China to facilitate "essential travel" of Indians to and from China even as Bejing announced it's travel ban from India. 

A release from the Chinese embassy said, due to the COVID pandemic, China has decided to "temporarily suspend" the entry into China by "foreign nationals in India holding valid Chinese visas or residence permits." 

The release explained the suspension is a "temporary measurement" that China has to "adopt" to deal with the current COVID-19 crisis and the country will make "further adjustment and announcement in accordance" with the ongoing pandemic situation. 

The entry into China with visas issued after November 3, 2020 is not affected by this announcement. 

Indian government sources explained that the "measure is not India specific" and "similar measures have been announced in respect of several other countries".

Other than India, the Chinese embassy in Belgium, UK, and the Philippines have also announced the temporary suspension of entry into China by non-Chinese nationals in these countries despite holding visas or residence permits.  

The announcement by the Chinese side comes against the backdrop of 19 Indians testing COVID-19 positive on Vande Bharat flight from Delhi to Wuhan on October 30. 

While the fate of upcoming Vande Bharat mission (VBM) flights is not known, 4 flights from Wuhan to Delhi are scheduled as of now on--November 13, 20th 27 and December 4th. 

A planned VBM flight on November 6 from Delhi to Wuhan and back to Delhi did not receive the required clearance from Chinese authorities and the flight has been postponed.