Scholar from China denied visa in wake of Doklam issue

Kolkata: A Chinese scholar who was scheduled to attend a two-day conference of defence thinktank: Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regional Studies Kolkata (CENERS-K) could not attend it on Friday, as he did not get visa in wake of Doklam stand-off. Prof Guo Xetang is the director at the Institute of International Strategy and Policy Analysis. He is also the associate dean at Law School at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.

Prof Xetang was one of the three speakers invited at the session on “Can Economic Engagement Overshadow the Security Concerns between India and China?” on the first day of the Calcutta International Dialogue on “India-China Relations-Resolving Contentious Issues”, which got underway with former National Security Advisor and ex-West Bengal governor M K Narayanan’s address at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Claude Arpi, who holds the Field Marshal KM Cariappa Chair of Excellence from the United Service Institution of India, replaced Prof Xetang who informed the organisers about his failure to come for not getting visa.

While speaking on the session’s topic Amar Sinha, a former ambassador, said, “He is not present (Prof Xetang). I wish he was here. The indication is clear. He could not get a visa.”