China issues 85000 visas to ‘Indian friends’ | What's the catch?

Amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions and Trump’s steep tariff hikes, China has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in a soft power move. The Chinese Embassy in India has eased visa norms—eliminating online appointments, waiving biometrics for short stays, cutting fees, and speeding up processing. While border tensions persist, this gesture aims to rebuild people-to-people ties and foster goodwill. China also urged India to unite against what it called the U.S. “abuse of tariffs,” emphasizing mutual economic interests.