China on Tuesday suspended short-term visas for Koreans and Japanese. The Chinese embassy here said the move could be adjusted if Korea’s discriminatory access restrictions to China are lifted. Visas to visitors from China until the end of the month, while those who have already received their visas will need to provide a negative COVID test and be re-screened upon arrival, which has already resulted in many other people being sent to quarantine. But what else can the country do? Infections in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have reached 90% by some estimates.
Reciprocity is, of course, a precept in diplomatic relations. When one country takes certain measures for or against another, the other does the same. But does this apply to the COVID situation, where infections in one country are rising and in the other are firmly under control. Given the large expanse of China’s population, a buildup of infections can only be an emergency across neighboring countries. at any time, and restricting the number of visitors from China to this level makes no unusual sense. The brakes will be lifted as soon as the spread of COVID is under control. In other words, China’s retaliation is nothing more than a sullen tantrum. And why target only Korea and Japan?Many other countries have curbed the influx of Chinese travelers without being attacked in turn.