China suspends visas for South Koreans in virus retaliation

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government suspended issuing tourist and business visas Tuesday for South Koreans, and reportedly for Japanese, in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 testing requirements imposed by those countries on travellers from China.

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul, in a brief notice on its WeChat social media account, said the ban would continue until South Korea lifts its “discriminatory entry measures” against China.

Japan's Kyodo News service said the ban would also affect Japanese travellers, though there was no similar announcement from China.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the government was aware of the report and was holding unofficial discussions with Chinese authorities about measures being considered by Beijing.

It would be “regrettable” if restrictions are imposed, the official said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

China's Foreign Ministry threatened countermeasures last week against countries that had announced new virus testing requirements for travellers from China. At least 10 in Europe, North America and Asia have done so recently, with officials expressing concern about a lack of information about rapidly spreading virus outbreaks in China.

The Chinese announcement in South Korea appeared to apply only to new applicants, and said nothing about South Koreans currently holding visas.

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. We have provided information to the international community in a transparent manner and we have communicated with the Chinese side in advance.”

A withholding of visas from South Korean or Japanese businesspeople could delay a hoped-for revival of commercial activity and potential new investment following China's abrupt lifting of anti-virus controls last month.

Business groups had warned earlier that global companies were shifting investment plans away from China because it was too hard for foreign executives to visit under the pandemic controls. A handful of foreign auto and other executives have visited China over the past three years, but many companies have relied on Chinese employees or managers already in the country to run their operations.

The World Health Organization and several nations have accused China of withholding data on its outbreak. A WHO official said Tuesday that t he agency sees no immediate threat for the European region from China's outbreak, but that more information is needed.

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