China to Stop Issuing Visas for Japanese Citizens
- Freepik/kstudio
VIVA – China recently has continued restrictions and even to stop issuing visas for Japanese tourists that want to visit China. This decision was announced on Sunday, January 29, 2023, in a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy’s website.
This becomes a move that could ease the contention between the two countries. Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Japan said that this new regulation will come into effect this week.
China stopped issuing new visas in Japan in apparent retaliation for Tokyo’s requirement of additional tests for Chinese tourists, ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays. Meanwhile, Tokyo made a protest Beijing over the suspension of visas for its citizens and asked to cancel the action.
China also stopped issuing visas to South Koreans after South Korea in early January did the same for short-term travelers from China. However, there is no information from the Chinese Embassy in South Korea. Previously, the Chinese Embassy to South Korea had also carried out the same visa work as representatives in Japan.
The latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 6,364 people died from Covid-19 during the period January 20-26, 2023. The number dropped from 12,658 between January 13 and 19.
Covid-19-related respiratory failure caused 289 deaths in the seven days from January 20. While 6,075 deaths were recorded among Covid-19 patients who had congenital diseases.