July 29, 2023
New Delhi, India – In a mark of protest against China’s decision to issue ‘stapled visas’ to athletes from the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India has withdrawn its entire wushu (martial art) team from the World University Games, which was set to begin on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Chengdu.
The controversy arose when three wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh were given stapled visas instead of the regular stamped ones. The issuance of such visas implies that China does not recognize India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, a sensitive region with historical border disputes between the two countries.
The incident came to light when airport authorities in New Delhi prevented an eight-member contingent, including five athletes, a coach, and two support staff, from boarding the flight to Chengdu on Thursday midnight. The officials cited government instructions as the reason behind this abrupt action.
Coach Raghvendra Singh expressed bewilderment as they were not provided any explanation for the last-minute obstruction. Notably, this group did not include athletes from Arunachal Pradesh who were scheduled to depart on Friday, July 28.
Reacting to the issue, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, condemned China’s decision as “unacceptable” and stated that “India reserves the right to suitably respond to such actions.” He confirmed that India lodged a strong protest with the Chinese authorities, reiterating its consistent stance on the matter.
According to an official of the Wushu Federation of India, all members of the team had applied for visas on July 16. However, the Chinese embassy delayed processing the applications of the three Arunachal athletes – Onilu Tega, Nyeman Wangsu, and Mepung Lamgu. The trio was asked to resubmit their applications on July 25, and to their dismay, they received their passports back with stapled visas on July 26.
This is not the first time that China has adopted such measures against athletes from Arunachal Pradesh. In the past, the country has either denied visas or issued stapled ones, effectively restricting their travel. Notably, in 2011, five karate players from Arunachal Pradesh faced a similar situation during a championship in Quanghou. Similarly, in 2013, two archers, Sprang Yumi and Maselo Mihu, were barred from participating in the Youth World Archery Championship due to the issuance of stapled visas.
In light of China’s stance on the matter and as a gesture of solidarity with their fellow athletes, India made the difficult decision to withdraw its entire wushu team from the World University Games. The move sends a clear message of disapproval and underscores India’s commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and the rights of its citizens.
As the situation unfolds, the diplomatic relations between India and China are likely to be closely monitored by the international community. The incident also highlights the need for continued dialogue and cooperation between the two neighboring nations to address longstanding issues and foster mutual understanding.
