Indian executives looking to travel to China on business trips are finding it increasingly harder to procure visas, with Beijing imposing stricter controls, impacting manufacturing operations in several sectors. Chinese officials sanctioned only 20-40% of visa applications for several companies in the past few months, compared with near-complete approval rates earlier, said executives at electronics and automobile contract manufacturing companies.

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The restrictions on visa issuances and rejections are impacting normal business operations and project execution at a time when India remains heavily reliant on China for components, capital equipment, and technical expertise in several sectors. As much as 50% of components and capital goods are imported from China, varying by industry.

“Getting a Chinese visa is no longer as seamless as it used to be,” said the managing director of a large electronics manufacturing company, requesting anonymity.

“The process is taking much longer, rejections require fresh applications, and even then, approvals for business visas have become extremely limited.”

Several companies have approached the Centre informally, urging it to raise the issue with Beijing through diplomatic channels.

A person familiar with India-China ties confirmed that the Centre is aware of the matter.

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“China will do everything in its power to obstruct India’s rise and progress,” the person said. “Rejection of visas of Indian businessmen is one such measure. Constricting Indian supply lines and flow of products, technology and personnel is just the latest version of the coercion package they have evolved,” he said, requesting anonymity.

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

Frequent Indian business travellers to China have also flagged the issue on social media platforms, including Reddit, reporting the sharp rise in visa rejections despite the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.

India-China relations deteriorated sharply after the Galwan Valley clash in early 2020 and the ensuing military face-off for more than four years. New Delhi subsequently tightened investment rules for Chinese firms through mandatory multi-ministry approvals under Press Note 3, and significantly restricted visas for Chinese nationals, making exceptions largely for technical personnel working with Indian firms covered under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.