China suspends short-term visas for visitors from South Korea and Japan

BEIJING – China has suspended issuing some visas for South Korea and Japan in Beijings first retaliation against Covid-related curbs on Chinese travellers.

Chinese consulates in South Korea will halt the issuance of short-term visas for visits, business, tourism, medical care, transit and personal matters from Tuesday, said the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.

The suspension will be adjusted if South Korea removes its discriminative inbound restrictive measures targeting China, it added.

China also suspended visa issuance to Japanese travellers, Kyodo News reported, citing unidentified people in the travel industry.

The moves represent Chinas first attempt at retaliation after a raft of nations recently implemented testing requirements for travellers from the country.

Although China imposes similar testing requirements for all arrivals, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Tuesday the entry curbs for Chinese travellers were discriminatory.

We will take reciprocal measures, Mr Wang said, without elaborating.

The dismantling of Chinas Covid-Zero policy after almost three years has sparked a deluge of infections that, combined with a lack of information about how many people are sick or dying, has raised concerns over the possibility that new virus strains will emerge.

The announcement comes a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed concern about the restrictions in a telephone call with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin, according to Chinas foreign ministry.

Following the announcement, South Korea foreign ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk said: The Korean governments strengthened prevention measures for entrants from China are based on scientific and objective grounds.

We have been transparently exchanging related information with the international community, and have also been communicating with the Chinese side.

South Korea began requiring travellers from China to undergo a PCR test upon arrival from last week, joining a growing list of countries imposing border restrictions amid concern over infections following Chinas decision to end its zero-Covid policies.

South Korea said in late-December that it would require Covid-19 tests for all travellers from China by end of February, and would limit short-term visa issuance until end of January. It also put the further increase in the number of flights from China on hold and directed existing flights to one airport. Remote video URL China had warned earlier in January that it would hit back against such moves.

Last week, South Korean police tracked down a Chinese man who went missing while awaiting quarantine after having tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival.

The spat will likely rekindle memories of Chinas decision to dramatically scale back trade with South Korea in 2017 after then-president Moon Jae-in agreed to host the Thaad US anti-missile system. Mr Moons successor, President Yoon Suk-yeol, has in recent months raised Beijings ire by pledging to work more closely with the United States, including expanding the missile shield.

The incident raised concern about the spread of the virus from China after Beijing abruptly abandoned its tough zero-Covid policy and opened its borders despite widespread domestic infections.

Mr Yoon said on Monday the countrys border measures should focus strictly on the safety of its citizens. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS More On This Topic Thailand welcomes returning China tourists with flowers, gift bags Why is Spore not imposing any Covid-19 tests for travellers from China?