Intelligence agencies keep a tab on Chinese think tanks, India groups

India’s intelligence agencies have brought Chinese think tanks and India-based groups affiliated with them under the lens. Individuals sponsored by Chinese think tanks will not be granted visas until they secure a security clearance following proper scrutiny.

India has tightened visa rules to keep a check on the entry of people associated with China’s “growing outreach network” comprising think-tanks, cultural and trade organisations, public policy groups and academics. A list of such organisations has been drafted on the basis of reports by intelligence agencies.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been asked to inform missions abroad that visas sponsored by some of the organisations under the intelligence radar will only be issued after security clearance.

“In order to closely monitor activities in India, visas sponsored by entities of concern shall require a prior security clearance. MEA may therefore appropriately sensitise mission abroad regarding requirements of prior security clearance granting a visa,” communication in this regard says. The note goes on to add that the Chinese government has developed an outreach system comprising think tanks all over the world with an objective to influence sections in countries on strategic interest.

Many of these organisations are based in India but backed by China and regularly sponsor visas for policymakers, think tanks, political parties, upcoming leaders, corporate firms, academics and research entities, etc. Sources say it that some of these individuals have been suspected of indulging in espionage.

The communication was circulated in July amid the India-China border tussle in eastern Ladakh. This move concerning visas comes in the wake of the Government of India banning Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok.
Some of these think tanks are an important component of China’s soft power and claim to have activists, scholars and representatives from all walks of life as members. Their goal is to influence policy decisions in targeted countries.

Meanwhile, India and China continue to remain in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where the status quo was changed by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in May of this year. While tensions have de-escalated at friction points, complete disengagement is yet to be achieved despite continuous military and diplomatic dialogue.