• Recently, India lodged a strong protest against China''s decision to revive the practice of issuing "stapled visas" instead of normal visas to Indian sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh.
• The visas were given to three ''Wushu'' martial arts athletes who were part of a 12-member team bound for the World University Games in Chengdu.
• China''s use of "stapled visas" implies its contention that Arunachal Pradesh is disputed territory, a stance that India strongly opposes.

What is a Stapled Visa?

• A stapled visa is an unstamped piece of paper attached to a page of the passport using pins or staples. It can be easily torn off or detached at will.
• This differs from a regular visa, which is affixed to the passport by the issuing authority and stamped directly onto it.
• This attached paper serves as the official visa and is referred to as the Stapled Visa.

Controversy over Stapled Visas

• It was stated that China began to refer to Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” from 2005 onward.
• The Chinese signalled their intention by refusing to give a visa to an Indian government official who was serving in Arunachal Pradesh in late 2006.
• Subsequently, they started the practice of issuing ‘stapled’ visas.
• China previously employed the practice of issuing "stapled visas" to Indians from Jammu Kashmir (then including Ladakh) and Arunachal Pradesh between 2011 and 2013.
• India had raised objections at the highest levels, leading to a cessation of the practice for some years.
• The issue also reflected a deeper mistrust between India and China, who have a long-standing border dispute and a history of political and economic competition.

China’s Intention

• They claim that Arunachal Pradesh is part of their territory and refer to it as "Zangnan" or "South Tibet" in Chinese.
• They do this by issuing official lists with Chinese names for places in Arunachal Pradesh and using tricks like stapled visas to undermine India''s control over the area.
• This disagreement over the region''s boundaries is at the core of Chinese claims over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and leads to tensions and occasional conflicts between the two countries.

India’s Stand on the Stapled Visa Issue

• India has been consistent in its stance on the stapled visa issue, maintaining that it does not accept China’s policy.
• It urges China to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. India has also engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue, including high-level talks and diplomatic exchanges.
• India has also taken measures to strengthen its own position in the region, including the development of infrastructure in the northeastern states and increasing economic engagement with neighboring countries.

India-China Relations

• India and China have a long history of relations, both as friends and rivals. Both countries were founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement and have been strategic partners since 2005.
• However, border disputes and military conflicts have caused tension between them, like the 1962 war.
• One of the major points of contention is the border issue, with both countries claiming territories along the Himalayan border.
• Despite the challenges, India and China have made efforts to strengthen their relations.
• They have collaborated on various multilateral platforms, including BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the G20.
• Recently, their rivalry has grown due to changing global dynamics and China''s BRI project.
• The two countries have been engaged in a race for regional supremacy, with India strengthening its alliances with other Asian powers, such as Japan and the United States.