China has made it mandatory for people coming from India and 19 other nations to get Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccines if they want to travel to this country.
“For the purpose of resuming people-to-people exchanges in an orderly manner, starting from 15 March, 2021, the Chinese Embassies and Consulates in India will provide the persons having taken Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine and holding the Certificates of Vaccination,” a notice posted on the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi said.
The announcement makes little difference for thousands of Indian students besides professionals working in China and their family members who are stuck in India awaiting Beijing to permit their return as there are no Chinese vaccines available in India.
The Chinese Embassy notice did not specify how Indians can access the Chinese-made vaccines in India as they are not available in the country. Over 23,000 Indian students, most of them medical students, besides hundreds of professionals working in China are stuck in India since last year due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Despite repeated representations from the Indian embassy and appeals by the students, China is yet to respond positively.