An Indian plane arrived in China for the first time in years on Monday, a significant step for two nations that have been working to repair their broken ties. The flight from IndiGo departed Kolkata and flew into Guangzhou with around 180 passengers, ending years of dispute from direct travel between the countries
Why Flights Stopped in the First Place
Airlines stopped flying between India and China back in early 2020 when the pandemic hit and countries shut their borders. But even after other places started flying again, these two countries kept their skies closed to each other. The real reason had nothing to do with health concerns. The soldiers from the two nations engaged in a brutal conflict in 2020 in a mountain region both countries claim to be theirs. Individuals were killed in that battle, and the fury of it made the flights delayed for years.
The border area is located high up in the Himalayas, and India and China have both claimed ownership of various sections of it for centuries. Both governments remained angry with each other and avoided contact after the fatal scuffle. Trade was reduced, visits ceased, and ordinary citizens could not move easily back and forth between the two nations.
Signs That Things Are Getting Better
In the last year or so, there have been efforts by both sides’ leaders to ease tensions. A significant breakthrough came last year when both nations agreed on new guidelines for how their troops would patrol the disputed border regions. This resulted in less likelihood of another deadly clash.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in August, his first visit there since seven years. In the same month, foreign minister Wang Yi of China visited India. The visits at the top level indicated that the two governments wished to put their issues behind them. The government of India stated that resuming flights would enable ordinary citizens to reconnect with one another and gradually return to normal between the countries.
What Happens Next
The atmosphere at Kolkata airport on Sunday evening was almost like a celebration. The airline employees lit traditional brass oil lamps when they were checking in the passengers for the historic flight. Qin Yong, a Chinese consulate official, said in an interview that this was a day very important for the relationship between the two nations.
Passengers boarding the flight appeared to be thrilled about the change. One of the passengers described how having direct flights would reduce shipping of goods to be quicker and also save travel time significantly. India has also begun issuing travel documents to Chinese tourists once again, which they had ceased issuing. Yet another airline, China Eastern, intends to begin services from Shanghai to Delhi next month, providing people with even more choices. The resumption of these flights does not cure all that ails India and China, but it indicates that both nations recognize they must coexist with their differences.
News At Glance
- IndiGo flew the first direct flight from India to China in more than five years to land in Guangzhou with 180 passengers on Monday.
- Direct flights were suspended during the 2020 pandemic and remained grounded after a fatal military confrontation at the contested Himalayan border further strained relations.
- India and China finalized a vital border patrol deal last year that assisted in easing tensions between the nuclear-capable neighbors.
- Modi traveled to China in August for the first time in seven years, while China’s foreign minister made a visit to India in the same month.
FAQs
Q1: When were flights between India and China suspended?
Direct flights ceased early in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic and remained halted even after other borders had reopened.
Q2: Why did flights not resume earlier?
A fatal border skirmish in 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops made relations extremely poor and prevented flights from taking off.
Q3: Who operated the first aircraft?
IndiGo had the first direct flight, traveling from Kolkata to Guangzhou with some 180 passengers.
Q4: Will more flights start between India and Chine soon?
Yes, China Eastern Airlines will begin flying from Shanghai to Delhi next month.
Q5: Does this indicate India and China resolved their border conflict?
No, but they reached an agreement last year regarding border patrols that eased tensions considerably.
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