In retaliation for Tokyo and Seoul heightening border controls for arrivals from China, Beijing on Tuesday stopped issuing visas to Japanese and South Korean nationals.
"Regrettably, a handful of countries ... have insisted on taking discriminatory entry restriction measures targeting China," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday during a regular press conference. "China firmly rejects this and will take reciprocal measures."
Travelers on direct flights from mainland China to Japan are required to submit a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure to enter the country. The visa response that Beijing claims as "reciprocal" makes it nearly impossible for Japanese nationals to travel to mainland China.
