India's decision to tighten visa norms that restricts entry of unskilled and semi-skilled workers from China has got the Chinese government fuming.
Support for the Chinese has come from within the Indian government.
So, while the Chinese say that the new visa norms will be a disturbing factor in the bilateral ties, the union power secretary feels that infrastructure projects in India will take a hit.
The Chinese dragon is finding it hard to digest the changes in the working visa norms introduced by India for Chinese labourers. Chinese officials see this decision as a dark spot in the already blow hot, blow cold bilateral ties.
Peng Gang, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy, said, "We can understand it is your internal policy. You are thinking of unemployment issues. But still it is not at all satisfying factor in our bilateral cooperation."
India has tightened norms for business visas to curb influx of unskilled labour.
Business visas will now be issued to only those keen to set up business in India. Others will have to apply for employment visa, which have stricter norms. This move is expected to affect over 25,000 Chinese workers employed in power generation, communication and petroleum sectors in India.
The Chinese government seems to have got an unlikely supporter. Power secretary H S Brahma has written to the cabinet secretary asking for visa restrictions to be relaxed as several infrastructure projects are dependent on Chinese workers for completion.
The Indian industry though thinks that the government's new visa norms will not restrict highly skilled workers from China.
Raghu Pati Singhania, vice chairman and MD of JK Tyre and Industries Ltd, said, "Where there is a need for scientists and technicians there it’s fine. I don’t think the government is rejecting either."
Meanwhile, the visa row between India and China is refusing to die. But the big issue here is—does India have enough semi-skilled work force to fill in and keep the infrastructure development show running?