China stopped issuing visas to Japanese and South Korean citizens on Tuesday in retaliation to their COVID-19 travel restrictions and mandatory testing requirements imposed on Chinese travellers.
MEASURES TAKEN
In a brief notice posted on WeChat, the Chinese embassy in Seoul said that the visa ban would stay in place until South Korea lifts its “discriminatory entry measures”
It is unclear whether China would extend the suspension measure to other countries that have imposed travel restrictions and mandatory testing requirements on passengers from China in Asia, North America, and Europe.
COMMENTS
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that “few countries” had announced “entry restriction measures targeting travellers from China” ever since it “adopted provisional measures on cross-border travel.”
China suspends visa issuance to Japanese citizens; issuance of short term visas to South Koreans
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) January 11, 2023
1st retaliation after string of countries imposed covid testing/entry restrictions on Chinese travelers
Morocco made harsher move than Japan/South Korea -banning travelers from China
Wang said that although China had given “fact-based” information to such countries and elaborated on its “science-based and reasonable COVID measures,” the foreign governments, “in disregard of science, facts and their actual epidemic situation,” had “insisted on taking discriminatory entry restriction measures targeting China.”
“China firmly rejects this and will take reciprocal measures,” he warned.
Wang further urged countries to ensure that their COVID response measures are “fact-based, science-based and proportionate” and not be “used as a pretext for political manipulation.” “It should not be discriminatory and should not affect normal cross-border travel and people-to-people exchange and cooperation,” he asserted.
REACTION
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that it was “extremely regrettable that China has restricted visa issuances.” He also said that the country would continue to respond appropriately and monitor China’s surging COVID-19 infections and how transparently the government shares relevant information.
Hayashi added that Tokyo had protested the move through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “our government’s step to strengthen anti-virus measures on passengers arriving from China is based on scientific and objective evidence ... and we have communicated with the Chinese side in advance.”
"Regrettably a few countries still disregard science and affect their own Covid situation."
— Bloomberg Markets (@markets) January 11, 2023
China suspends issuing some visas for South Korea and Japan citizens saying it will take "reciprocal" actions. https://t.co/ylh1ibPoHM @BloombergTV pic.twitter.com/TZ5PGSMjl4
BACKGROUND
South Korea had stopped issuing most short-term visas at its consulates in China for the month of January, except for government activities, essential business and humanitarian reasons. Japan has also announced a similar step after COVID-19 cases in China began surging, following the government’s relaxation of zero-COVID public health measures.