China has this week issued its third travel warning aimed at India, following two advisories that were issued in July and August amid the military stand-off at Doklam near the India-Bhutan-China trijunction.
The Chinese Embassy’s third advisory, posted on its website on Tuesday, said several Chinese tourists were denied entry into India. It was the first such warning after the August 28 disengagement at Doklam.
“Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival; some were even arrested or investigated,” the statement said.
“Visitors should not photograph India’s border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India’s border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake,” it added.
It also called on Chinese travellers to comply with visa requirements, take care of their luggage and money while travelling and not accept food or beverages from strangers.
The advisory also called on Chinese nationals to comply with Indian laws, respect local religious customs and avoid insulting local religions or customs.
China had on August 24 issued a strong advisory, which was the second such warning amid the 72-day Doklam stand-off . Both militaries disengaged on August 28.
That advisory is valid until the end of the year, and in a strong language, warned of safety threats facing Chinese nationals in India and asked them to reduce unnecessary travel.
“There are frequently occurring natural disasters, traffic accidents and infectious diseases in India,” it said.
This followed the first advisory in July, which was a month-long warning that called on Chinese nationals to pay attention to their safety.
Diplomatic sources say China’s advisories are on occasion prompted by safety concerns, but have in the past also been used as a tool to exert diplomatic pressure. For instance, China took steps to curtail tourism travel to South Korea amid a spat over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defence system there.
China has also generally refrained from issuing similar national advisories regarding travel to Pakistan, its close all-weather ally, despite persisting security concerns involving Chinese nationals there. Two Chinese citizens were abducted and killed in Quetta in June, following which the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan issued a travel warning only for Quetta, but did not issue warnings on travel to Pakistan.
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