When China Gets Rejected at Entry... China Says "Don't Come from Korea Due to COVID Patients"

China Eastern Airlines passenger plane [Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Amid the suspension of China Eastern Airlines' Incheon-Shanghai route due to confirmed COVID-19 cases in China, voices are emerging that this measure may be a unilateral punishment without consideration for South Korea.

According to foreign media on the 11th, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced that from the 12th, it will suspend the operation of China Eastern Airlines flight 'MU5042' connecting Seoul (Incheon International Airport) and Shanghai for one week.

The CAAC stated that eight passengers on the China Eastern Airlines flight MU5042 from Incheon to Shanghai on the 25th of last month tested positive for COVID-19, citing this as the reason for the disciplinary action.

This measure follows the new international flight operation regulations established by the CAAC after the COVID-19 outbreak. Since resuming international flights in June, the CAAC has been imposing incentives or suspensions based on COVID-19 test results of passengers.

The incentive measure allows the airline to increase the number of weekly flights up to two if the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among passengers arriving in China remains zero for three consecutive weeks.

The suspension measure enforces a one-week flight suspension if the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among arriving passengers exceeds five, and a four-week suspension if it exceeds ten.

As a result of this disciplinary action, China Eastern Airlines will also suspend operations on the Incheon-Wuxi route, which had been additionally granted based on the performance of the Incheon-Shanghai route.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government is expressing dissatisfaction, arguing that such measures by China are excessive, especially since South Korea allows entry even if passengers arriving from China test positive for COVID-19.

Previously, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized other countries for restricting entry of people from China due to COVID-19, stating, "While it is understandable that some countries conduct necessary testing, we oppose overreactions or even creating panic."

However, China itself reduced international flights and restricted foreign entries as the domestic COVID-19 spread subsided. Since March 28, it has taken a tough stance by banning entry of all foreigners, including those holding valid visas and foreign residence permits.

This has sparked controversy over whether China's disciplinary measures are unilateral actions that do not take South Korea into consideration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.