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Beijing criticises Covid curbs on Chinese travellers, warns countermeasures

In countries like the US, Canada, France and Japan travellers from China are now required to show negative Covid tests before arrival.

AP

China says that these measures lack scientific basis and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity.

China has condemned fresh Covid test requirements by around a dozen countries on passengers travelling abroad from its territory, warning it could take "countermeasures" in response.

The United States, Canada, France and Japan are among a number of countries that now require travellers from China to show a negative Covid test before arrival, as the country faces a surge in cases.

"Some countries have taken entry restrictions targeting only Chinese travellers," said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday.

Ning said that we are "firmly opposed to such practices" and will take corresponding measures accordingly.

"This lacks scientific basis and some practices are unacceptable," she added, warning China could "take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity".

More countries around the world begin imposing travel ban for people who arrive from China as Covid-19 cases surge in the country pic.twitter.com/PCldCvLFYn
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 1, 2023

Surge in infection rate

China is seeing a steep rise in infections after years of harsh zero-Covid restrictions were abruptly loosened last month with little warning or preparation, and hospitals and crematoriums have been quickly overwhelmed.

Chen Erzhen, vice president at Ruijin Hospital and a member of Shanghai's Covid expert advisory panel, said that 70 percent of the megacity's population may have been infected.

"Now the spread of the epidemic in Shanghai is very wide, and it may have reached 70 percent 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.

In late December, Beijing said inbound travellers would no longer be required to quarantine, sending many Chinese people rushing to plan long-awaited trips abroad.

Countries have cited China's lack of transparency around infection data and the risk of new variants emerging as reasons to restrict travellers.

China recorded only 22 Covid deaths since December, after dramatically narrowing the criteria for classifying such deaths.