Flights Resume After Years of Tension

For the first time since 2020, planes will fly directly between Indian and Chinese cities. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that services will resume in late October, with IndiGo relaunching its Kolkata–Guangzhou route on 26 October. Officials say this is more than a transport arrangement — it is a political signal that both sides are ready to reopen channels of exchange.

The Border Clash That Froze Ties

Direct flights were suspended in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clashes, where at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in brutal hand-to-hand combat. The incident marked the deadliest confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, plunging ties into deep freeze and halting most people-to-people contact.

Gradual Steps Toward Normalisation

Over the past year, Delhi and Beijing have cautiously worked to ease tensions. They have agreed to new patrolling arrangements along the Himalayan border, held several rounds of high-level talks, and allowed religious and cultural exchanges. China has reopened access to Indian pilgrims visiting sacred sites in Tibet, while India restored visa services for Chinese tourists.

The reopening of direct flights is framed as a practical step to accelerate this slow normalization, allowing trade, business, education, and tourism exchanges to pick up after years of disruption.

Strategic Shifts Driving Reconciliation

Beyond border management, geopolitics has played a role. India’s frictions with the US over President Trump’s tariffs created room for closer dialogue with Beijing. Both sides have publicly echoed the idea of being “partners, not rivals,” with Chinese officials even labeling Washington a “bully” for its tariff policies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in August, his first in seven years, also helped pave the way. Meeting President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, the two leaders pledged commitment to stabilizing ties.

What Lies Ahead

The reopening of flights does not erase long-standing disputes. The 3,440 km border remains undefined, and both countries continue to assert overlapping territorial claims. Military build-ups in the Himalayas persist, and mistrust runs deep on both sides.

Still, the resumption of direct flights is seen as a necessary gesture — a reminder that while rivalries remain, economic and social connectivity cannot be held hostage forever.