China Suspends Visas for Korea and Japan but Announces "Flight Normalization" with the US

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] China, which suspended visa issuance to South Korea and Japan due to mandatory COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China, is now signaling a move to normalize long-suspended flight operations with the United States, which has taken similar measures.

According to major foreign media on the 12th, Liang Nan, Director of the Transport Division at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), introduced at a meeting held on the 10th by the Communist Party's International Liaison Department inviting foreign business leaders that China is currently accepting applications from Chinese and foreign airlines to resume operations. It was reported that applications from airlines operating routes between China and the United States were also included.

Director Liang stated, "The CAAC is currently expediting the review and approval process for resuming flight operations according to procedures," and added, "We welcome Chinese and American airlines to operate flights between the two countries in accordance with agreements and market demand." He emphasized, "The CAAC will strengthen communication with the relevant U.S. civil aviation authorities during the process of resuming flights and will promote the smooth resumption of China-U.S. flights."

While more than 15 countries, including South Korea, the United States, and Japan, have raised quarantine requirements for arrivals from China, China announced on the 10th that it would temporarily suspend the issuance of short-term visas for South Korean nationals traveling to China and general visas for Japanese nationals traveling to China. On the 11th, China partially suspended the issuance of transit visas and visas on arrival for these two countries only.

The United States also mandates pre-arrival COVID-19 testing for travelers from China, but China has remained silent toward the U.S. China has only played the visa retaliation card against South Korea and Japan, claiming it is a "reciprocal measure based on the actual situation of discriminatory actions."

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