India-China: Is Revival Without Trust Sustainable?

The recent step by India to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals, along with the possible return of direct flights and journalist visas, signals a cautious revival of diplomatic engagement between the two nations. Even pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar may resume, reflecting the thaw in cultural ties.

However, while these gestures may look like progress, the underlying tensions remain far from resolved.

Key issues such as China’s continued transgressions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the lack of clarity on the LAC’s exact location, and ongoing concerns in regions like Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet — remain unaddressed. The editorial rightly points out that without tackling these "hard issues," the current revival remains superficial.

True cooperation cannot flourish in the absence of trust. And trust cannot be built if the core disputes are ignored.

Diplomacy is essential, but diplomacy without accountability is fragile. Let’s hope both countries move from symbolic gestures to meaningful engagement — not just for strategic stability, but also for long-term peace in the region.

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