Beijing: The People’s Republic Of China striked down allegations against it, on the charges of denying visa to the manager of the Indian badminton team Bamang Tago, on the grounds of him hailing from the state of Arunachal Pradesh; retorting that Tago intentionally withdrew his visa application.
While Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang replied on being questioned about Tago’s visa issue to reporters in Beijing that “What you said does not comply with the facts”
Asked whether Togo was refused entry into the neighbouring country because he is an Arunachal Pradeshi, Geng said, “the way China issues visa to relevant people is a flexible approach adopted by China to facilitate exchanges between two sides pending the final settlement of the boundary question”.
“It fully reflects China’s sincerity and flexibility. We hope that India will work together with China to maintain sound momentum of personnel exchanges and cooperation in different fields between the two sides,” he said.
“According to what we learnt that the person you have mentioned had previously gone to the Chinese embassy in India for visa application but later he himself cancelled the visa application,” the spokesman stated.
Similar incidents date back with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj going on record in 2015 to admit that the issue of China disapproving visas to Indians from Arunachal Pradesh remained “unresolved.”
With India taking up the matter with China yet again, “We expect them to address this issue in the spirit of reciprocity and smooth development of bilateral relations,” External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a statement. The Indian state of Arunanchal Pradesh continues to be claimed as ‘Southern Tibet’ by China.
Bamang Tago, who is also the Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Badminton Association, had applied for a visa to travel to Fuzhou in China for taking part in the ongoing Super Series Premier badminton tournament.