CHINA-JAPAN Visa-free entry to China for Japan (despite tensions)

At the request of businessmen, Japan has also been included among the 38 countries whose citizens the People’s Republic facilitates entry as visitors. The announcement was made after the meeting in Lima between Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba. However, historical disputes remain valid, as demonstrated by the soccer match between the two national teams a few days ago in Xiamen.

Beijing (/Agencies) – China has included Japan in its visa exemption program and Japanese visitors will also be able to stay in the country for up to 30 days without entry permission. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the announcement today and explained that the measure will apply from November 30 until the end of next year.

Japan is one of the nine countries that joined the visa exemption list, which now totals 38. The others are Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia and Latvia. China began this policy last year, starting with some large European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with the aim of giving oxygen to tourism and business.

Until 2020, people with a Japanese passport could enter the country without a visa for a maximum of 15 days, according to a policy introduced in 2003. The measure was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. To enter Japan, Chinese visitors must obtain a visa, regardless of the length or purpose of their stay.

Beijing has made this decision after hundreds of Japanese investors asked China earlier this year to allow visa-free entry again to facilitate the expansion of business and investment, and after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru last week. Japan relies heavily on Chinese supply chains and is one of the country’s main import and export partners.

Deep down, however, the historical rivalries between Tokyo and Beijing remain, which in recent years the nationalist rhetoric of both countries has continued to fuel. Emblematic was the harsh condemnation by Chinese official organizations against the discharge of cooling water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, with the consequent blockage of imports of fish from Japan. In September, Beijing agreed to gradually lift the measure, as a result of talks and clarifications from Tokyo. But on Chinese social networks, anti-Japanese rhetoric continues to be extremely strong, with even serious consequences, such as the case of the child from a Japanese family who was murdered in front of a school in Shenzhen a few weeks ago. And two days ago, on the occasion of the soccer match between the two national teams that was played in Xiamen for the World Cup qualifiers, a large part of the stadium loudly booed the Japanese national anthem.

In Lima, Xi said Japan should “approach history in the right way, be forward-thinking and properly handle issues of the past, issues related to Taiwan and other important issues of principle.” Ishiba responded that Japan’s position on Taiwan remains unchanged, based on the Japan-China Joint Declaration signed in 1972. He also said that the countries will continue to maintain dialogue and translate into action as soon as possible the consensus that has been reached. about Fukushima.