Beijing, April 16, 2025 – China has rolled out 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in 2025, a 40% jump from last year, signaling a charm offensive as US President Donald Trump’s 245% tariffs on Chinese goods, effective Tuesday, choke Beijing’s economy. The visas—35,000 tourist, 30,000 business, and 20,000 student—aim to boost ties with “Indian friends,” China’s Foreign Ministry said, per NDTV, despite border tensions lingering since the 2020 Galwan clash.
The move follows Trump’s tariff escalation from 145%, slamming $439 billion in Chinese exports (Reuters). Beijing’s counter-duties hit US tech and cars, but India’s spared at 10%—a 90-day pause until July (The Indian Express). “China sees India as a buffer,” an analyst told The Hindu, noting 60% of India’s $118 billion trade with China is electronics inputs (Economic Times). X buzzes—“Smart move, but trust them?”—while some cheer: “Travel just got easier!” (post:1). China’s 1.4 million Indian visitors in 2019 crashed to 80,000 by 2023—visas signal a thaw (MEA).
For Indians, it’s a mixed bag—students eye Shanghai’s universities, but LAC shadow looms; 15,000 troops still face off (India Today). “Visas don’t erase 2020,” a Delhi trader said (Business Standard). China’s $2 trillion tourism market needs India’s 7 crore outbound travelers, yet only 2% pick China (UNWTO). With Reliance’s Shein deal wobbling, can India leverage this, or is it Beijing’s bait?
