Asian Games: Minister cancels China visit over barred Arunachal athletes
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has canceled his visit to China for the Asian Games 2023 after Beijing denied visas and accreditation to three athletes from Arunachal Pradesh. India also lodged a formal protest with China, citing "discrimination against Indian sportspersons." Notably, China is hosting the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou starting Saturday, where Indian athletes are scheduled to compete in 39 sports.
Why does this story matter?
Tensions between India and China have been simmering in recent years over border standoffs. It escalated last month when China released its new "standard" map, depicting Arunachal Pradesh—which it calls South Tibet—as Chinese territory. The map also depicted Aksai Chin in eastern Ladakh, which China captured in 1962, within its boundaries. China has been making repeated incursive attempts on Arunachal Pradesh to annex it.
'Arunachal Pradesh integral and inalienable part of India'
In a statement, the government said, "Government of India has learnt Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and premeditated manner, discriminated against some Indian sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh by denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games." "In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity," it added.
Violation of spirit of Asian Games: Bagchi
Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India strongly protests China's "deliberate and selective obstruction" of Indian sportspersons. He said China's actions "violate the spirit of the Games and rules governing their conduct" and India had the "right to take suitable measures" to safeguard its interests. The Olympic Council of Asia's acting president, Randhir Singh, said the issue is under discussion.
Rest of athletes from squad left for China
The three barred athletes from Arunachal Pradesh are women wushu fighters. The rest of the 10-member squad and the coaching staff left for Hangzhou on Wednesday. They had been approved to participate in the Asian Games, but they couldn't download their accreditation cards, which also act as entry visas. In July, Chinese authorities barred the same players from attending a sports event in China.
China didn't refuse visa: OCA official
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) honorary life vice president Wei Jizhong, on the other hand, said China didn't refuse any visas and the athletes already got visas. China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning said, "China welcomes athletes from all countries with legal documents." "The Chinese government does not recognize the so-called Arunachal region that you mentioned. South Tibet is part of China," she said.
