DoomDancer
Well-known member
China Eastern Airlines is set to resume flights between Shanghai and Delhi from November 9, marking a major breakthrough in relations between the two nations. The development comes as Beijing and New Delhi have begun to thaw diplomatic ties, following a period of strained relations that included aggressive US trade policies.
The airline will operate three flights per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, according to its website. The move is seen as a significant step towards restoring direct air links between the two countries, which were suspended in 2020 due to a military stand-off along their Himalayan border.
The resumption of commercial flights is largely attributed to a diplomatic thaw that has eased tensions over border clashes. Last year, China and India engaged in a brief but intense military confrontation in Ladakh, resulting in four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers killed.
The US President's increasingly belligerent trade policies are also believed to have contributed to the easing of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. In September, Trump raised tariffs on Indian imports to a record-high 50 percent, citing India's continued purchases of Russian oil. He also urged the European Union to impose 100 percent tariffs on China and India.
The resumption of flights is expected to boost trade ties between China and India, which have been strained in recent years. However, the move also comes with some complexities, particularly given the ongoing border tensions between the two nations.
For its part, China Eastern Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, Indian officials welcomed the development, saying that it would help to strengthen economic ties and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The airline will operate three flights per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, according to its website. The move is seen as a significant step towards restoring direct air links between the two countries, which were suspended in 2020 due to a military stand-off along their Himalayan border.
The resumption of commercial flights is largely attributed to a diplomatic thaw that has eased tensions over border clashes. Last year, China and India engaged in a brief but intense military confrontation in Ladakh, resulting in four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers killed.
The US President's increasingly belligerent trade policies are also believed to have contributed to the easing of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. In September, Trump raised tariffs on Indian imports to a record-high 50 percent, citing India's continued purchases of Russian oil. He also urged the European Union to impose 100 percent tariffs on China and India.
The resumption of flights is expected to boost trade ties between China and India, which have been strained in recent years. However, the move also comes with some complexities, particularly given the ongoing border tensions between the two nations.
For its part, China Eastern Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, Indian officials welcomed the development, saying that it would help to strengthen economic ties and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
. I mean, we've had all these diplomatic ups and downs, but I guess the US trade policies were a bit too much for Beijing and New Delhi to handle 
. Four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers killed? That's some crazy stuff... But hey, it looks like they're willing to put their differences aside now 
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. And what about the environmental impact of all these flights? It's not like they're gonna magically make their emissions disappear 
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china and india finally getting back on track after all those tense moments... i'm so happy for the people of both countries who get to reconnect with each other through air travel 
it's also super cool that trade ties are gonna boost between them, i've been hearing so much about how great china and india can collaborate together 
I'm not sure how I feel about this resumption of flights... on one hand, who doesn't love a good trip? 
but at the same time, given what happened in Ladakh last year... it's all so confusing. 
I mean, I was just thinking about when I traveled to India back in 2015 and how amazing the food was! 
now I hear that Chinese nationals are getting visa restrictions which is kinda a bummer. 
️ I remember when I was studying abroad in India, it was super hard to get back home because of all the visa issues and flight restrictions. Now that this is happening, I'm already thinking about planning a trip to explore both China and India together with my friends 
I'm literally so hyped about this!!! China Eastern Airlines is finally resuming flights between Shanghai & Delhi after all those years of tension 
It's like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, you feel? The fact that diplomatic ties are thawing & the US trade policies aren't as aggressive anymore 
I mean who doesn't love more air travel options between two major countries?! 
Like, let's not forget that there's still some work to be done. 
Still super excited tho! 
... can't just forget about that stuff overnight. Guess only time will tell if this is gonna lead to more trade and people-to-people exchanges or not 
. Three flights a week, huh? Not too shabby 
. So like China Eastern Airlines is gonna start flying to Delhi again and stuff, after a while they didn't have any direct flights because of some border issues... 
This is like déjà vu, remember when we were talking about how China and India needed to reconnect their economies? And now this! 
Anyway, this is all positive news, right? I just hope the flights go smoothly and don't get disrupted by any more border issues... fingers crossed 
. Honestly thought it was gonna be a while before we see direct flights again, but I guess diplomatic thawing is good for business too! 
It's like, nice that they're trying to improve relations with India after all the drama a few years ago. But at the same time, it makes you wonder what's really going on behind the scenes. Like, are we just glossing over some of the bigger issues? The border tensions between China and India aren't exactly something you can just forget about... 
50% tariffs are a whole thing, but hey, maybe we'll get to enjoy some Indian spices on our plane food soon? 
like a major win for diplomatic relations 
hope it leads to a stronger trade partnership and people-to-people exchanges 
. but let's be real, it's not like they're going to start hugging each other or anything 
. still, i suppose this is a step in the right direction towards less drama between them 
. now can we just get some decent wifi on these flights so people can actually work while flying? 