China and India resume direct flights after five-year hiatus

"However, the reheating of relations comes as both countries vie with the foreign policy challenges emerging from the United States under President Donald Trump. India's ties with key trade partner Washington are faltering, with New Delhi seeking to persuade Washington to step back from punishing 50 percent trade tariffs. Trump's aides have accused India of aiding Russia's war in Ukraine through oil purchases. China is accused of directly supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbour with weapons."

"Direct flights have resumed between China and India after a five-year hiatus. IndiGo flight 6E1703 from Kolkata touched down in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou shortly before 4:00am on Monday (20:00 GMT on Sunday), carrying about 180 passengers. The flight is the latest sign that the world's two most populous nations are cautiously rebuilding relations after several years of diplomatic cooling."

Direct flights between China and India resumed after a five-year hiatus, with IndiGo flight 6E1703 arriving in Guangzhou from Kolkata carrying about 180 passengers. The resumption aims to boost people-to-people contact and gradually normalise bilateral exchanges. Flights were suspended in early 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and inflamed emotions. Deadly 2020 clashes along the Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead and sustained tensions. New Delhi tightened restrictions on Chinese investment and banned hundreds of apps, including TikTok, and deepened ties with the US-led Quad. Both countries face external pressure from US trade policies and geopolitical dynamics involving Russia.

Read at www.aljazeera.com