Indian Nationals In China Raise Concerns Over Visa Issues And Social Media Content

Members of the Indian diaspora in China raised concerns over abusive anti-India content on Chinese social media platforms, visa-related difficulties, and employment restrictions during the Indian Embassy’s first Open House interaction held in recent years. The outreach programme brought together Indian professionals working across different sectors in Beijing to discuss challenges affecting the community.

Indian Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami, along with Counsellor (Consular, Education and Community Affairs) Nitinjeet Singh and Counsellor (Visa) Ramesh Singh, interacted with members of the diaspora during the session. The discussions focused on issues related to work opportunities, visa procedures, consular assistance, and concerns faced by Indian families living and working in China.

Several members highlighted the rise of abusive and negative content targeting Indians on Chinese social media platforms, including remarks related to Indian food habits and culture. They also raised concerns over a decline in work visas issued to Indian professionals and restrictions preventing spouses of expatriates from taking up employment opportunities in China.

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Addressing the concerns, Ambassador Doraiswami said the Chinese government is also aware of the growing presence of such negative online content and is taking steps to deal with the issue. He added that the Indian Embassy is working to counter misinformation by sharing factual information through its official social media channels.

The ambassador also announced steps to improve people-to-people connections between India and China, including simplifying documentation requirements for Chinese nationals applying for Indian visas. He said the embassy plans to organise more cultural programmes to showcase India’s heritage, traditions, and cuisine, building on the response received for events such as the annual Vasant Mela.

The mission is also working on creating a support mechanism with legal professionals to assist Indians dealing with work-related challenges in China. Doraiswami said the embassy would continue holding Open House interactions periodically to improve consular services and provide a platform for the Indian community to raise concerns and seek assistance.

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