The Kashmir Princess was an Air India aircraft involved in a major incident resulting from escalating political tensions in the East Asian region during the mid-20th century. The airplane was en route from Hong Kong to Istanbul, carrying passengers and diplomatic representatives. As the plane crossed over the South China Sea, it was bombed in mid-air, leading to a crash in which over 15 passengers lost their lives. Notably, the intended target, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who was expected to be on the flight, had altered his travel plans at the last moment, resulting in his absence from the doomed journey.

The attack was attributed to the Kuomintang, the Nationalist Party of China, which had retreated to Taiwan following its defeat by the Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War. The Kuomintang sought to undermine the legitimacy of the new Communist regime established by Mao Zedong and viewed Zhou Enlai as a key individual representing that regime. This incident, therefore, underscored the continuing hostilities and violent endeavors by the Nationalists against the Communist leadership.

In addition to the immediate tragedy of the flight and loss of life, this event also had far-reaching implications for Sino-Indian relations and the broader geopolitical landscape of Asia. The bombing led to increasing hostilities and a subsequent crackdown by the Indian government on anti-China sentiments within India. Such events contributed to a climate of tension during the Cold War era, further complicating the relationships between Asian nations. The incident emphasized the danger of international politics, where airlines and civilians could inadvertently become central figures in global power struggles.