China Reopens to Japanese Visitors But Not Koreans

China has resumed short-term visas for Japanese visitors but continues to deny them to Koreans even though it accused both countries equally of "discrimination" when they restricted entry for tourists from China. 

The Chinese Embassy in Japan said on Sunday that it is issuing short-term visas again. Last month, Japan made it mandatory for arrivals from China to show negative COVID tests and take another test on arrival but did not stop short-term visas. 

Beijing nonetheless stopped short-term visas for Japanese in a fit of pique, but it seems to have relented after being accused of flouting the principles of reciprocity and proportionality. 

Korea by contrast both demands COVID tests from long-term visa holders from China and halted short-term visas until Feb. 28. 

The Korean government said, "The infection situation in China is improving, but we cannot completely rule out a resurgence after the Lunar New Year holiday."