The expulsion of the “last” Chinese reporter from India marks the first instance since the normalization of relations in the 1980s. The reporter, associated with the Xinhua news agency, reportedly went back to China last week after his visa extension was denied by the Indian authorities. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, on June 12, confirmed that the reporter was still operating normally within China but warned of countermeasures if India did not extend his visa.

Wang Wenbin, the ministry’s spokesperson, highlighted that since 2020, the Indian authorities had been denying review and approval for Chinese journalists’ applications to be stationed in India, while significantly reducing the validity period of Chinese journalists’ visas to as little as one month or three months, leading to the number of Chinese journalists stationed in India plummeting from 14 to just one.

The expulsion of the Chinese reporter from India reflects the souring of diplomatic relations between India and China in the past year. In the aftermath of the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh since May 2020, both countries have been taking a series of retaliatory measures and retaliatory rhetoric. In December 2020, India expelled three Chinese journalists from the Global Times.

India has also taken steps to restrict the number of Chinese apps and has banned the import of goods originating from China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in its statement, has expressed its “grave concern” over the Indian authorities’ actions, and has urged India to immediately revoke its decision and “correct its wrong practices.” It further noted that "the two sides should increase mutual trust on the basis of mutual respect and properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation." The response from the Indian side has been that it is the prerogative of the Indian government to decide who can enter the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, has expressed that India remains “open to foreign journalists seeking to cover news in India, in accordance with the laws of India.” The expulsion of the last Chinese reporter from India serves as a reminder of the current tense and fragile diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is uncertain whether these measures will be able to improve the situation, or have the opposite effect. However, it is essential for both countries to ensure that mutual respect and trust is maintained, and that differences are addressed through dialogue and consultation. This is the only way forward for India and China to move ahead and manage their differences in a constructive manner.