The spat over COVID-19 curbs on Chinese travellers escalated further on Wednesday when China&nbsp;introduced transit curbs for South Korean and Japanese nationals. China has reopened after three long years but several nations are introducing restrictions on Chinese travellers following which China had threatened retaliatory action.&nbsp;

Japan is protesting against China's decision of suspending visas for its citizens and asked Beijing to reverse its decision -- the retaliatory action that the Chinese government defended, calling it “reasonable.”

"It is regrettable that China unilaterally has taken visa suspension action for reasons other than steps for the coronavirus," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said during a press conference on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

He emphasised that Japan's restrictions do not bar Chinese visitors from entering the nation. “We protested to China through diplomatic channels and demanded the removal of the measure,” he said, The Strait Times reported. Talking about Japan's border controls going forward, Matsuno said that the government will act appropriately in light of China's coronavirus crisis and its information revelation.

State-run tabloid Global Times defended Beijing's retaliation as a "direct and reasonable response to protect its own legitimate interests, particularly after some countries are continuing hyping up China's epidemic situation by putting travel restrictions for political manipulation."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/east-asia/covid-19-retaliation-china-suspends-short-term-visas-for-south-koreans-japanese-551040" hreflang="en">COVID-19 curbs retaliation: China suspends short-term visas for South Koreans, Japanese</a>

China's action followed Japan's toughening of COVID-19 border control regulations for travellers arriving directly from China, including the requirement for a negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to departure. Beijing slammed&nbsp;the testing requirements as "discriminatory."

On Tuesday, in its first reprisal against COVID-19 restrictions imposed on Chinese travellers, China suspended issuing short-term visas for South Koreans and Japanese. The Chinese embassy in South Korea said that South Koreans would no longer be granted visas for the purpose of travel, business, medical treatment, transit, and general private affairs, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Other countries including the United States, South Korea, France, etc., have also introduced testing requirements in response to China's fresh Covid outbreak.

Watch | China dropped zero-Covid policy after massive protests

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://13.235.153.162/videos/china-covid-xi-administration-gradually-dismantles-zero-covid-policy-541962/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier this month, Beijing warned to take action against "unacceptable" Covid actions. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Following China's decision to abandon its "zero Covid" policy in December last year, its residents and citizens began to demand international flights, raising concerns about the virus’ spread and China's underreporting of the cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The spat over COVID-19 curbs on Chinese travellers escalated further on Wednesday when China introduced transit curbs for South Korean and Japanese nationals. China has reopened after three long years but several nations are introducing restrictions on Chinese travellers following which China had threatened retaliatory action.

The spat over COVID-19 curbs on Chinese travellers escalated further on Wednesday when China introduced transit curbs for South Korean and Japanese nationals. China has reopened after three long years but several nations are introducing restrictions on Chinese travellers following which China had threatened retaliatory action. Japan is protesting against China's decision of suspending visas for its citizens and asked Beijing to reverse its decision -- the retaliatory action that the Chinese government defended, calling it “reasonable.” "It is regrettable that China unilaterally has taken visa suspension action for reasons other than steps for the coronavirus," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said during a press conference on Wednesday, Reuters reported. He emphasised that Japan's restrictions do not bar Chinese visitors from entering the nation. “We protested to China through diplomatic channels and demanded the removal of the measure,” he said, The Strait Times reported. Talking about Japan's border controls going forward, Matsuno said that the government will act appropriately in light of China's coronavirus crisis and its information revelation. State-run tabloid Global Times defended Beijing's retaliation as a "direct and reasonable response to protect its own legitimate interests, particularly after some countries are continuing hyping up China's epidemic situation by putting travel restrictions for political manipulation." Also Read | COVID-19 curbs retaliation: China suspends short-term visas for South Koreans, Japanese China's action followed Japan's toughening of COVID-19 border control regulations for travellers arriving directly from China, including the requirement for a negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to departure. Beijing slammed the testing requirements as "discriminatory." On Tuesday, in its first reprisal against COVID-19 restrictions imposed on Chinese travellers, China suspended issuing short-term visas for South Koreans and Japanese. The Chinese embassy in South Korea said that South Koreans would no longer be granted visas for the purpose of travel, business, medical treatment, transit, and general private affairs, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. Other countries including the United States, South Korea, France, etc., have also introduced testing requirements in response to China's fresh Covid outbreak. Watch | China dropped zero-Covid policy after massive protests Earlier this month, Beijing warned to take action against "unacceptable" Covid actions. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Following China's decision to abandon its "zero Covid" policy in December last year, its residents and citizens began to demand international flights, raising concerns about the virus’ spread and China's underreporting of the cases. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China imposes transit curbs for South Korea, Japan as Tokyo protests visa suspension

A day after China halted its short-term visas for South Koreans and Japanese travellers after Japan imposed covid19 curbs on visitors from China, Japan has now lodged a protest over the suspension of visas and asked China to overturn the action.

China defends its retaliation against South Korea and Japan travel curbs

China on Tuesday slammed the negative Covid result sought by various countries from passengers boarding flights from its territory and warned of a retaliatory response even as a top Shanghai doctor admitted that over 70 per cent of the population in the megacity may have been infected with the virus.&nbsp;

At least a dozen countries, including US, UK, Australia, and India, have mandated negative Covid results 48 hours prior the departure from China regardless of the vaccination status as a resurgent virus continues to wreak havoc.&nbsp;

In a statement, the foreign ministry deemed the additional screening measure as "unacceptable", saying that it lacks "scientific basis".&nbsp;

"Some countries have taken entry restrictions targeting only Chinese travellers," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing.&nbsp;

"This lacks scientific basis and some practices are unacceptable," she added, warning China could "take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity".&nbsp;

The recent outbreak has been marked by China's shift from 'zero-Covid' policy following a massive protest that rocked the country in December. &nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3f9335c8-cdae-47f1-bb8f-609ef7ff2947}{185}" paraid="259556051" >'70% of Shanghai population infected' &nbsp;</h2>

A senior doctor at one of Shanghai's top hospitals has claimed that 70 per cent of the city's population may have already been infected with COVID-19, state media reported.&nbsp;

Chen Erzhen,&nbsp;vice-president at Ruijin Hospital and a member of Shanghai's COVID-19 expert advisory panel, has&nbsp;estimated that the majority of the city's 25 million people may have already been infected during the Covid surge.&nbsp;

<h2>Belgium to test waste water on airlines from Covid-hit China</h2>

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"Now the spread of the epidemic in Shanghai is very wide, and it may have reached 70 per cent of the population, which is 20 to 30 times more than [in April and May]," he told Dajiangdong Studio, owned by the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily.&nbsp;

The doctor added that his hospital was seeing 1,600 emergency admissions daily, which is double the number prior to restrictions being lifted, with 80 per cent of them COVID-19 patients.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{66be8344-ffc6-4b9a-8ddd-fbbdeed70f90}{176}" paraid="1290338026" >Chinese media plays down severity&nbsp;</h2>

Even as Covid cases continue to surge, several media outlets have been playing down the severity of the outbreak, despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) share specific and real-time information on the outbreak.&nbsp;

On Monday, China reported three new Covid deaths, taking its official death toll to 5,253 since the pandemic began.&nbsp;

The People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, on Tuesday cited Chinese experts as saying that the illness caused by the virus was relatively mild.&nbsp;

"Severe and critical illnesses account for 3 per cent to 4 per cent of infected patients currently admitted to designated hospitals in Beijing," Tong Zhaohui, vice president of the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told the newspaper.&nbsp;

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China on Tuesday slammed the negative Covid result sought by various countries from passengers boarding flights from its territory and warned of a retaliatory response even as a top Shanghai doctor admitted that over 70 per cent of the population in the megacity may have been infected with the virus.

China on Tuesday slammed the negative Covid result sought by various countries from passengers boarding flights from its territory and warned of a retaliatory response even as a top Shanghai doctor admitted that over 70 per cent of the population in the megacity may have been infected with the virus. At least a dozen countries, including US, UK, Australia, and India, have mandated negative Covid results 48 hours prior the departure from China regardless of the vaccination status as a resurgent virus continues to wreak havoc. In a statement, the foreign ministry deemed the additional screening measure as "unacceptable", saying that it lacks "scientific basis". "Some countries have taken entry restrictions targeting only Chinese travellers," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing. "This lacks scientific basis and some practices are unacceptable," she added, warning China could "take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity". The recent outbreak has been marked by China's shift from 'zero-Covid' policy following a massive protest that rocked the country in December. '70% of Shanghai population infected' A senior doctor at one of Shanghai's top hospitals has claimed that 70 per cent of the city's population may have already been infected with COVID-19, state media reported. Chen Erzhen, vice-president at Ruijin Hospital and a member of Shanghai's COVID-19 expert advisory panel, has estimated that the majority of the city's 25 million people may have already been infected during the Covid surge. Belgium to test waste water on airlines from Covid-hit China "Now the spread of the epidemic in Shanghai is very wide, and it may have reached 70 per cent of the population, which is 20 to 30 times more than [in April and May]," he told Dajiangdong Studio, owned by the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily. The doctor added that his hospital was seeing 1,600 emergency admissions daily, which is double the number prior to restrictions being lifted, with 80 per cent of them COVID-19 patients. Chinese media plays down severity Even as Covid cases continue to surge, several media outlets have been playing down the severity of the outbreak, despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) share specific and real-time information on the outbreak. On Monday, China reported three new Covid deaths, taking its official death toll to 5,253 since the pandemic began. The People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, on Tuesday cited Chinese experts as saying that the illness caused by the virus was relatively mild. "Severe and critical illnesses account for 3 per cent to 4 per cent of infected patients currently admitted to designated hospitals in Beijing," Tong Zhaohui, vice president of the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told the newspaper. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China warns of 'counter-measures' against countries seeking negative Covid test from flyers   

The European Union is not expected to ease Omicron travel curbs on southern African countries, Reuters said citing three sources. EU health ministers will discuss coronavirus pandemic and spread of Omicron variant on Tuesday.

EU states had agreed to &nbsp;impose travel curbs on travellers coming from seven southern African countries. This was done after these countries reported Omicron variant which is considered more infectious than previous variants

Bloomberg News, citing one diplomat familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that EU health ministers at a meeting on Tuesday may agree on the need for a PCR test for vaccinated third-country nationals from that region, which could allow some travel bans to be eased or lifted within a week.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-spreads-in-south-africa-as-president-ramaphosa-urges-vaccination-434673">Omicron spreads in South Africa as President Ramaphosa urges vaccination</a>

The travel ban "was meant always as a time-limited measure", one senior EU official told Reuters, adding however that there was no plan at the moment to lift it. "We are not yet working in that direction."

Another two EU sources familiar with the work of health ministers said no decision on travel bans was expected at Tuesday's meeting.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-resulted-in-alarming-increase-in-malaria-deaths-who-434686">Coronavirus pandemic resulted in alarming increase in malaria deaths: WHO</a>

Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are the southern African countries that have been targeted.

South Africa has criticised the travel ban which it said penalised the country for having the expertise to first identify the variant. The United States, Britain and many other countries imposed bans similar to those of the EU.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union is not expected to ease Omicron travel curbs on southern African countries, Reuters said citing three sources. EU health ministers will discuss coronavirus pandemic and spread of Omicron variant on Tuesday.

The European Union is not expected to ease Omicron travel curbs on southern African countries, Reuters said citing three sources. EU health ministers will discuss coronavirus pandemic and spread of Omicron variant on Tuesday. EU states had agreed to impose travel curbs on travellers coming from seven southern African countries. This was done after these countries reported Omicron variant which is considered more infectious than previous variants Bloomberg News, citing one diplomat familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that EU health ministers at a meeting on Tuesday may agree on the need for a PCR test for vaccinated third-country nationals from that region, which could allow some travel bans to be eased or lifted within a week. Also Read | Omicron spreads in South Africa as President Ramaphosa urges vaccination The travel ban "was meant always as a time-limited measure", one senior EU official told Reuters, adding however that there was no plan at the moment to lift it. "We are not yet working in that direction." Another two EU sources familiar with the work of health ministers said no decision on travel bans was expected at Tuesday's meeting. Also Read | Coronavirus pandemic resulted in alarming increase in malaria deaths: WHO Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are the southern African countries that have been targeted. South Africa has criticised the travel ban which it said penalised the country for having the expertise to first identify the variant. The United States, Britain and many other countries imposed bans similar to those of the EU. (With inputs from agencies)

EU unlikely to lift Omicron travel curbs on southern African countries

In a bid to further ease its travel curbs, Germany lifted a ban on travellers from India, the UK, and three other countries, where the delta variant of coronavirus has been found in the samples of COVID-19 patients.

Germany eases travel curbs, lifts ban on travellers from India and UK

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