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.
China stopped issuing new visas in Japan on Jan. 10 in apparent retaliation for Tokyo’s requirement of additional tests for Chinese tourists in late December, ahead of Lunar New Year holidays. Japan cited soaring infections in China and its abrupt easing of coronavirus restrictions as well as scarce COVID-19 data from Beijing….