China suspends visas for South Koreans in virus retaliation
CTV
China suspended issuing visas Tuesday for South Koreans to come to the country for tourism or business in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 testing requirements imposed by South Korea on Chinese travellers, according to a notice posted by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.
China suspended issuing visas Tuesday for South Koreans to come to the country for tourism or business in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 testing requirements imposed by South Korea on Chinese travellers, according to a notice posted by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.
Japan's Kyodo News service said the ban would also affect Japanese travellers. 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.
The brief notice, published on the embassy WeChat account, said the ban will continue until South Korea lifts its "discriminatory measures on entrance by China" to the country.
No other details were given, although China has threatened to retaliate against countries requiringtravelers from China to show a negative test result for COVID-19 taken within the previous 48 hours. The announcement appeared to apply only to new applicants, and said nothing about South Koreans currently holding visas.
Withholding visas from Korean or Japanese businesspeople could delay the revival of fully fledged commercial activity and potential new investments following China's abrupt lifting of anti-virus controls.
Business groups warned earlier that global companies were shifting investment plans away from China because it was too hard for foreign executives to visit. A handful of foreign auto and other executives have visited China over the past three years, but companies have relied on Chinese employees or managers already in the country to run their operations.
A South Korean restaurant owner in Beijing said the announcement forced friends to postpone plans to visit China. He spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern his business might be affected. He added that he is preparing to renew his own Chinese work visa and doesn't know whether that will be affected.
