New Delhi, India, registered a strong protest with China on Thursday regarding the issuance of stapled visas to three players from Arunachal Pradesh who were part of the national wushu team bound for the World University Games in Chengdu. This move by China, which does not recognize India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, prompted New Delhi to express its discontent and warn of potential responses from the Indian side.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi conveyed the government's stance during a routine media briefing, stating, "This is unacceptable, and we have lodged our strong protest with the Chinese side, reiterating our consistent position on the matter." He emphasized that India maintains a long-standing policy that no discrimination or differential treatment based on domicile or ethnicity should be applied in the visa regime for Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports.

The issuance of stapled visas indicates China's refusal to acknowledge India's territorial sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, further escalating tensions between the two countries. Notably, this development comes amid an ongoing military standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control since May 2020, contributing to strained bilateral ties.

The three players from Arunachal Pradesh were scheduled to depart for Chengdu on Thursday night, but the government directed the wushu team to put their travel plans on hold after being informed of the visa issue. While other team members received their visas on time, the players from Arunachal Pradesh were asked to resubmit their documents, only to receive stapled visas from the Chinese embassy on Wednesday.

The situation has raised concerns about the players' participation in the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where they are also part of India's squad. There are worries that the stapled visas could potentially affect their entry into China for the event.

In the past, China has been known to refuse visas or issue stapled visas to sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh, causing hindrances to their travel. These actions by China have led Indian immigration officials to bar anyone with a stapled visa from boarding flights to China.

The issuance of stapled visas has been a contentious issue between India and China for over a decade. In response to China's practice, India stopped referring to the "one China" policy in official documents. The latest incident involving the wushu team adds to the complexity of India-China relations and underscores the sensitive nature of the Arunachal Pradesh territorial dispute.