The Chinese Embassy in the UK has announced that it is once again suspending entry to all non-Chinese citizens coming from the UK to China, even if they are holding valid visas and residence permits. The announcement, which was made on Thursday, is the latest bid by the Chinese government to keep the country largely COVID free this winter.
After announcing that those wanting to travel from the UK to China would be required to take a nucleic acid and IgM antibody test before receiving a health declaration from the Chinese embassy, it has been revealed today that such declarations will no longer be issued.
The exceptions will be repatriating Chinese nationals and holders of diplomatic, service or C visas. Any foreign national who needs to fly to China from the UK for a business or personal emergency will be required to apply for a special visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Visas issued after November 3, 2020, will also not be affected.
The UK embassy said the suspension was a temporary measure that will be assessed and adjusted according to the evolving COVID situation in the country. According to expat WeChat groups in China, other countries, including Belgium, the Philippines, Poland, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic, are all now working under similar rules. A full list of the affected countries is currently unavailable, but similar restrictions are likely to be issued against other places with a high rate of infection.
Meanwhile, China’s largest carrier, China Southern Airlines, is to stop taking passengers from 21 countries who transfer via a third country on their way to China. The announcement was made on Tuesday, according to state media the Global Times.
eChinaCities.com has been unable to find the full list of 21 countries affected, but they are said to encompass 10 African nations, including Ethiopia, Guinea and Ghana, and eight Asian countries, including the Philippines, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Russia and Brazil are also said to be on the list.
The carrier said the move was made on the grounds of virus control shortly after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced the latest round of foreign flight suspensions. On October 30, the regulation suspended three international fights: a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Guangzhou after it transported nine COVID-positive passengers into China; a China Southern route from Dhaka to Guangzhou that imported 10 positive passengers; and an Air Canada flight from Moscow to Shijiazhuang, which transported 14 positive passengers.
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Keywords: new covid testing rules for China
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Kenneth, does this Chinese tactic of deflection and diversion have an official name? Are you part of a group? Does this fall under the framework of "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy? I'm genuinely interested
Nov 13, 2020 15:27 Report Abuse
Classic Whataboutism here Kenneth. Does China's operation of diversion and deflection have a name too? China will have to be quite creative to distract the world from their history on creating pandemics
Nov 11, 2020 06:13 Report Abuse
Kenneth, did you actually read those sources you've posted? They have not even been peer reviewed. Is this what they're using to brainwash people in China? Hahaha
Nov 09, 2020 20:18 Report Abuse
Who will give me a good audience about this job and payment
Nov 09, 2020 05:09 Report Abuse
Covid originates from Spain in February 2019? Or does Spain have a large Chinese community which regularly travels? Please specify
Nov 08, 2020 10:28 Report Abuse
UK is in lockdown due to fake and discredited forecast numbers. Boris has no idea what he's doing
Nov 08, 2020 06:41 Report Abuse
since xi, there will be few foreigners here. i was working since 2006, we always had 6 foreign teachers. last years, i am alone or one more. its the xi strategy got rid of free mind foreigners, students. d
Nov 08, 2020 06:38 Report Abuse
I think that is the best way to reduce covic 19 from coming back to China for
Nov 07, 2020 15:58 Report Abuse
All of the world's cases were exported from China. The virus just wants to come home.
Nov 07, 2020 11:32 Report Abuse
Really makes no sense for the ban to be put in place now. "Cases" in the UK have been the same for a month now. And Yes, preventing covid from existing in the first place would have been the best option, why didn't China think of that?
Nov 06, 2020 16:56 Report Abuse