China "Actively Considering Lifting Visa Restrictions on Korea"... Will the Conflict Be Resolved?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] On the 10th, the Chinese government announced that it would actively consider lifting the restrictions on issuing short-term visas to Koreans. This statement came after the Korean government decided to resume visa issuance 40 days after suspending short-term visa issuance for travelers from China.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing that "lifting the visa restrictions on Koreans is the right step to reduce obstacles to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries."

He emphasized, "China will actively consider resuming the issuance of short-term visas to Koreans on an equal basis," adding, "We hope to create more convenience for normal exchanges of people between Korea and China."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day in the morning, the Korean government lifted the restrictions on issuing short-term visas, stating that the spread of COVID-19 in China had peaked and the positive rate among entrants from China remained low. The positive rate among short-term stay entrants from China who were tested at the airport initially rose to the 30% range but dropped to 1.4% from May 29 to June 4. As the visa controversy that sparked Korea-China tensions enters a resolution phase, attention is focused on whether the tense relations between the two governments will ease and whether people-to-people exchanges will become active again.

As COVID-19 rapidly spread in China, the Korean government had earlier suspended the issuance of short-term visas to China at Korean diplomatic missions in China starting from May 2. In response, the Chinese government retaliated by suspending the issuance of short-term visas for Koreans traveling to China. However, the Korean government extended the suspension of visa issuance once more on May 27. At that time, the Chinese government strongly protested, saying, "Unreasonable behavior must be canceled promptly." The Korean government had originally planned to suspend visa issuance until June 28 but decided to lift the restrictions earlier than expected on this day.