New Delhi: China indefinitely suspended air travel from India. The decision to bar non-Chinese flyers to return to China was taken over a hike in COVID-19 cases in last week’s Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). While commercial flights between India and China have not resumed.
Beijing made similar announcements to bar the entry of non-Chinese visitors from Britain, Belgium and the Philippines. China is taking all possible measures against the resurgence in coronavirus cases in the country.
For India, it means the four VBM flights scheduled every week from November 13th onwards now would have to be rescheduled. Officials here stated that more than 1500 Indians had registered to return to China. However, this new announcement makes their return to China uncertain.
The Chinese foreign ministry defended the decision. It said it was a ‘reasonable and fair’ measure to tackle the pandemic.
