India has registered a strong protest with Beijing regarding the alleged deliberate obstruction of three athletes from Arunachal Pradesh from participating in the Asian Games in Hangzhou. The dispute centres around three women wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu, who were unable to download the necessary travel documents from an official Chinese website, preventing them from travelling to Hangzhou. However, the remainder of the wushu team, totaling 10 players, encountered no such difficulties and successfully boarded a flight for Hong Kong en route to Hangzhou.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancels his visit to China
As a result of this action, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has cancelled his planned visit to China for the games. The external affairs ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, stated that India has lodged a strong protest in both New Delhi and Beijing regarding China’s perceived selective obstruction of its athletes. Bagchi further emphasised that India reserves the right to take suitable measures to protect its interests, although he did not provide specific details.
This development comes at a time of heightened tensions in India-China relations, primarily due to the prolonged military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India has conditioned the normalisation of relations with China on the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
Bagchi also reiterated India’s long-standing position that it firmly rejects differential treatment of its citizens based on domicile or ethnicity. He emphasised that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral and inalienable part of India.
China gave stapled visas to same players in July
Notably, this is not the first instance of such controversy involving the Arunachal Pradesh athletes. In late July, these same players were unable to participate in the World University Games in Chengdu due to China issuing them stapled visas.
Stapled visas imply that China does not recognize India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed territory according to China’s claims. In response to the stapled visas, the entire eight-member Indian wushu team withdrew from the event in Chengdu in protest.
Recently, the three wushu players met with cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju, requesting his intervention in the matter.