China U-Turns on Visa Freeze for Japanese

China U-Turns on Visa Freeze for Japanese
The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on Jan. 11, 2023. Kazushi Kurihara/Kyodo News via AP
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TOKYO—China announced it was resuming issuing visas for Japanese travelers beginning Sunday, ending its nearly three-week suspension in an apparent protest of Tokyo’s tougher COVID-19 entry requirements for tourists from China.

The decision was announced in a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy’s website. According to Asia Nikkei, the decision was to prioritize business in an effort to support economic recovery.