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"It has come to the attention of the government that the Chinese Embassy here and its Consulates in Mumbai and Kolkata are issuing visas on a separate piece of paper stapled to the passport (rather than "pasted" as is the usual practice), to certain categories of Indian nationals on the basis of their domicile, ethnicity and/or place of issue of the passport.
"Such paper visas stapled to the passport are not considered valid for travel out of the country," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement here.
The snub comes in the wake of the reports that some Kashmiri students and businessmen were given visa by the Chinese embassy on a separate piece of paper, stapled to the passport. Immigration officials at the airport denied permission to such travelers to fly out.
The Ministry of External Affairs also asked its citizens to ascertain from the Chinese embassy or Consulate whether the visa issued to them will be affixed to the passport or will be in the nature of a stapled paper visa to avoid any inconvenience or financial loss.
"All Indian citizens intending to travel to the People's Republic of China are advised that before making any travel arrangements they should first ascertain from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, as the case may be, whether the visa being issued to them will be affixed to the passport or will be in the nature of a stapled paper visa, so that they are not inconvenienced or put to any financial loss later on this count," the ministry said.
Chinese embassy officials here have been maintaining that stapling of the visas on a separate piece of paper was a "usual practice" for last few years and the problem was from the side of Indian immigration officials at the airport.
The Chinese Embassy's practice of stamping visas to some Kashmiris on a separate sheet of paper instead of passports was seen as a new front in needling it, evoking a strong reaction from India.
The visas were stamped on separate papers as was the practice for those hailing from Arunachal Pradesh. The action with regard to Kashmiri travelers is seen as an attempt by China to question the status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India.
Upset over the development, India had said, "it is our considered view and position that there should be no discrimination against visa applicants of Indian nationality on the grounds of domicile or ethnicity."
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Congress government should stand up for the rights of Muslims Ughirs also. They are also being discriminated by the Chinese government and all Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are turning a blind eye to the killings of Ughirs and destruction of nearly 100 mosques in Ughir by Chinese government.
Finally the government of India is standing up to the bully. Way to go India stand up and be heard and don't take crap from China. Next let the Dalai Lama go where he wants in Arunachal Pradesh the Hindus should build a Vishnu temple and Buddhist Stupa there as a holy place of pilgrimage.
The Chinese have met their objective by needling India where it hurts most. The best reaction is to take it on the chin right now. Think out-of-the-box coolly how best India can reciprocate when China is least expecting it. Spoiling the American President's visit by creating a controversy would have been an apt answer. Spoiling the Olympics was another such option but we let that go by.
China's national integrity is like balloon. This will blown by a small heat. They are suppressing the people of China by using iron hand of Communist parties. They are the height of human right violaters in the world. India must react tit for tat basis to China, Indian authority MEA should visa to Tibetans, Taiwanese and Uigers such kind of paper visas by mentioning disputed land in China.
India must reat tit for tat basis to China, Indian authority MEA should visa to Tibetans, Taiwanese and Uigers such kind of paper visas by mentioning disputed land in China.
China has already divided Indians on the basis of Visas issued to them. Why India thinks and returns back when beaten twice? Regards
China has already divided Indians on the basis of Visas issued to them. Why India thinks and returns back when beaten twice? Regards
in response to chinese visa game, India has to issue seperate visas to Tibetians and India has to recognise Taiwan and Tibet as sovereign nations.
Time for some reciprocal behaviour has come, as tha Chinese respect position of strength. IF any Chinese of Tibetian origin or other disputed nationality wants to visit India for any purpose other than than diplomatic the visa should also be stapled.This will send a very strong message to China.
All lands that China occupied after 1930's should be declared "disputed" (not with India but with the "Chinese" native non-Han people of the area). The problem is that Indian politicians do not have the ba!!s to do that. Instead, they try to stop Dalai Lama from traveling and Tibetans from protesting in India, because they do not want to upset China.
Stapled visas were regularly issed by the former USSR Embassy and I myself had one (multi-entry). It is a hassle as one is worried about it getting detached and lost. But then there were no protest from our Govt.
why does not india retaliate by giving out paper visas to tibetans ad east turkestans(xinjiang) citizens effectively recognizing these regions as disputed territories. start dialogue with taiwan for full scale military relationship and support independence for macao. if india stands up for these east asians will support us. but one must be ready for a lonely battle in case things become bad and china and india fight it out. trust me. even china will hesitate to attack if we show resolve and show that war will not be limited to borders but take to their cities as well. we should follow same policy regards china that pakistan follows regards us in case of war and threaten nuclear retaliation in case we are overrun
This is a welcome sign of spine on the part of the MEA, known for its timidity in general and vis-a-vis China in particular.India should not backtrack from this position of self respect at any cost.China should be made to understand that we will stand up to them. KRVenugopal, Former Secretary to the Prime Minister, Hyderabad, India.
if indian leaders had guts, they would have started paper visas for tibetans and east turkestans(xinjiang) visiting india. also started a more formal relation with taiwan including a security treaty and supply of weapons to taiwan, recognition of taiwan as separate country. but what use. leaders of india slept through decades while china ws mordernising military. still there is time. open your eyes. no more hindi-chini bhai bhai. only pragmatic and realistic foreign policy is required. china respects only strength.
The Visa is a document required by China to enter their country. How can the Indian emigration department be concerned with a Chinese visa ? If China wants they can let people in without a visa. India can technically only stop a person if there is something wrong with their passport. Having said this I do realize that India would be offended by the Chinese gesture but this reaction seems ludicrous.
This was long due policy from India and should rectify the situation and smart one too! Simply said you can not fly out of India, if the VISA is not pasted on to your passport, as many other countries do. China has very insidious policy and is different for different country meant to split and a symbolic statement on its policy. India should watch its back on conciliatory statement emanating from there. Hmm...I don't know the views of their communist brethren here in India. They have conspicuously silent on China's fraudulent visa policy (out of norm)and other provocative statements on Arunachal Pradesh. Suffice it to say that India's response should be vigorous and shed this "timid" image.
Visas are issued to be able to enter the countries and not leaving the countries. This action of Indian govt. seems weird. They should take up this issue with the Chinese govt. and sort it out. What the Indian govt. is doing stopping its people from going to china. How does it make any difference to china. And how is India standing up to China by stopping its people to going to china. They need to do more than that.
What is so weird? Visa's should be stamped on the passport. China is selectively stapling the visa only for Kashmiris and Arunachalis in effect telling us that they are not Indians. This is mischievous. They are not doing this for Indians from other states. So, in effect, they are making an international political statement violating India's sovereigny. Now do you get it?
The immigration authorities at the check point are supposed to check for valid visa for the destination country before they are allowed to leave India... It is the same with all countries... It is a must to have a valid visa for the destination. Since the satpled visa is not considered valid those with such visa cannot leave India. Hope u get it now
I know visa should be stamped on passport, but if Chinese are not doing it, what is India doing , stopping its people from going to china. How's it effecting China. Its it something they should takeup with china rather than asking people from kashmir and AP to ask China to stamp the visa on passport. If State can't make China to stamp visa'a on passports , would they listen to individuals applying for visas. I still believe Visas are issued by countries to enter their countries. the immigration authorities can stop anyone from traveling for different reasons. Some places like singapore issue visas upon landing.
Henry, Probably you wish to advise, that Indian Embassy in China should also issue stapled VISA to some of the Choosen chinese province people. China is just irritating us. It definately needs courage for Indian authorities to do sth in retaliation. China does not understand soft words.
..as you know my friend Indian leadership is full of morons and idiots....they lack brain and the will to listen and learn.They only know how to shoot in the dark..hope it will stick. In the case of visa, only the people traveling will be affected...i am not sure how china will suffer by this move
No country allow their residents to fly to a country if visa is not obtained. Britain is the only weird country where even entry or departure stamps are not put on passports. This is the reason Britain is a hub of terrorism today.
MEA and India needs to be bold. MEA needs to address the comparison of LAC(Line of Control) confusion and perception on part of both Country. India must spend communication with all the bordering countries to make sure that China does not take the undue advantage by pouring the money which is indirect way of Expansionist policies. MEA also take initiative to ease the Tibetan Refugees Back to Tibet and China back to the WALL.
Will China anex Nepal and negotiate with India on the border issue of Nepal Province of Peoples Rep. China? Vacate the illigel and brutal ocupation of Tibet and the issue will be automatically solved. China has to locas standi to negotiate with India her border with Tibet.
@Ray: Which hell are you talking? Tibet as autonomous region of China has been welcomed not only by India but by America, Europe and the whole world too. The burden of Tibetan refugee is the earning of our country. We have no right to talk about Nepal because it has managed to continue its sovereignty as an only independent nation when we and the whole Asia was enslaved by Mughals and Westerners. It is time to think about the control of area where people do not feel themselves Indian and common Indian can not go and live there. What a ridicule!
The steps taken by MEA are correct and need to be commended. The Chinese are getting too big for their tiny boots. Must be shown their place.
Going by the history of India-China relationship, this must be the first courageous move made by any Indian Government against the Chinese Dragon. After the 1962 debacle India has always looked away when it came to a staring game. Hopefully the Govt of India will do more in improving its Defence forces rather than starting a hollow war of words and inviting a re-run of 1962.
M.E.A. must be congratulated for standing upto China's diplomatic nonsence.China must not be overrated, there are still more 250 million Chinese peasants living below $1 dollar per day. India is also a growing economic power and China has to understand that and respect and not act as a rogue.
Dilipji, I wish more Indians realize this fact and stop feeling inferior! China's growth is limited to coastal regions. Beyond that, the growth is same as India. There is a feeling among the so called educated Indians that they're ruined because of 'Nehru's policies'. While hind sight is 20/20 and Nehru could have done somethings better, it is false to assume that Chinese were economic geniuses. Million people died of starvation during Mao's time as the food grains he collected to pay Russia for weapons/technology decomposed in warehouses. Deng was successful in implementing some measures in 1980s. And all he did was make bold investments in infrastructure.
Declaring paper visas invalid was the obvious thing to do and should have been done the day the Chinks started issuing such visas. The delay in taking the right action is yet another instance of India's tardiness and gutlessness.
Bravo MEA and the Government of India! Stand up to China on every front that China uses to undermine India and its territorial integrity. Making stapled visas invalid to travel out of the country is a response that China cannot ignore because it backfires on the so-called Middle Kingdom's policy of "divide and rule." India should not be scared of China because China is good at making a whole lot of noise while embracing Shun Zhu's "Art of War" as its guiding philosophy -- that is use "others" to fight your wars, e.g. Pakistan against India and North Korea against the South and the West. China knows it is bankrupt morally as it throws its own people into jail by the hundreds every day for "crimes" such as filing even minor complaints against the system, and executing more of its citizens every year than the rest of the world combined. India should strengthen its deterrence rather than be scared of this so-called "dragon." And, yes, new MEA policy is good and very timely.
Specially for JP Nobody has wasted more valuable time than yourself. The MEA is getting paid for it. By the way India has informed China not to issue stapled Visa, if they dont respect our soverignity its time to show the boot. Thats the only language china will understand. Always remember China is like a snake in the grass.