China suspends visas for Japanese travelers over COVID-19 measures

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – After halting issuance of short-term visas to South Korean nationals, China on Tuesday "suspended" the issuance of visas to Japanese travelers.

“China has suspended the issuance of visas to Japanese travelers... The visa suspension was notified to travel agencies in Japan," Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy and consulates in South Korea suspended granting short-term visas to South Korean nationals for visits, business, tourism, medical, transit, and general personal reasons "until discriminatory entrance restrictions against China were lifted."

Beijing had threatened to take retaliatory measures after several countries imposed restrictions, including requiring negative COVID-19 tests for China travelers entering these countries.

China dumped its "zero-COVID" policy, allowing full international travel from this Sunday.

However, the world's largest populated nation has seen an uptick in daily virus cases.

South Korea and Japan are among many countries including the US, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Morocco, Qatar, Canada, Greece, Malaysia, Finland, and the Netherlands that require negative COVID-19 test results from those arriving from China.