South China Morning Post
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A soldier wearing personal protective equipment directs a group of Chinese tourists to a Covid-19 testing centre after their arrival at Incheon International Airport in South Korea on January 4. Photo: Reuters
Opinion
April Zhang
April Zhang

Row over Covid curbs on Chinese travellers could be a chance to find common ground

  • The decision of some countries such as Japan and South Korea to impose entry restrictions on Chinese travellers amid a rise in Covid-19 cases in China has upset Beijing
  • The pandemic in general, and travel in particular, are issues on which solutions can be found relatively easily, which could be a source of goodwill amid larger tensions
April Zhang
April Zhang
Why you can trust SCMP

As individuals, we are all different. We come from different backgrounds, speak different languages, belong to different ethnic groups, or hold different beliefs. That is why we’re encouraged to find common ground when interacting with others who we may disagree with. Common ground helps us foster mutual understanding, come to agreements, accept our differences and also prevent echo chambers.

This approach is also effective between countries which disagree with each other on almost everything. A good example is that, last November, China and the United States agreed to resume cooperation on climate change.
The international community welcomed this move because the two countries have been locked in conflict on several issues, including ongoing trade tensions and a US export ban on certain technology to China.
Today, we are witnessing a new source of conflict between China and many countries, Japan and South Korea in particular, over cross-border entry restrictions. We need new common ground to resolve it.
Earlier this month, China reopened its borders for the first time in three years. Incoming travellers no longer need to quarantine, and many Chinese people are expected to travel abroad.

However, over a dozen countries responded with entry restrictions on Chinese visitors. In particular, according to CNBC, South Korea made Chinese travellers “very angry”, and Japan made them “even angrier”. South Korea went a step further by suspending the issuance of short-term visas in China until January 31.

China criticised these restrictions, saying they were discriminatory and politically motivated. Soon afterwards, it announced it would suspend issuing short-term visas to South Korean and Japanese visitors, and also warned of more suspensions to follow.

01:27

China immigration official says 1.35 million applied for passports, visas since Jan 8

China immigration official says 1.35 million applied for passports, visas since Jan 8

Compared with individuals, differences between countries are more entrenched and harder to bridge. Deep and complex political, economic and social issues all cause strained relations. Sometimes it is not clear that there even is any common ground.

But, occasionally, rare events emerge that bring us all together. These could be the common ground that allow us to cooperate if we stop assigning blame.

In 2007-2008, the world faced a financial crisis. Today, it is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. All countries have suffered during the pandemic and right now all are trying to rebuild their economies or tackle pandemic-related problems.

The pandemic could serve as a common ground that enables us to reach a consensus and avoid even greater disasters.

Everyone, including Beijing itself, is concerned about the surge in cases in the country after it lifted its zero-Covid policy. Many governments worry that the surge might give rise to new and more dangerous coronavirus variants, which could enter their country.
A medical worker administers a dose of coronavirus vaccine to an elderly resident on the outskirts of Shanghai in December. Photo: Reuters
China worries that the vaccination rate among its elderly is still low and the “great migration” of people around Lunar New Year may further spread the virus to small towns and rural areas which are less well-equipped with intensive care facilities.

We also know that resuming cross-border travel is important for business and trade and good for post-pandemic recovery.

At the same time, some recent developments have heightened the existing tensions and caused greater animosity.

When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met US President Joe Biden last week, the two leaders pledged to deepen their security alliance to counter China. Also, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently suggested that his country could ask the United States to redeploy nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula, which would further cement its own security alliance with America.

Compared with such problems that have deep historic roots, entry restrictions seem rather trivial, especially when most countries have learnt to live with the virus. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid making this issue any bigger.

02:50

‘A little scary’: Japanese hopeful yet wary about return of Chinese travellers

‘A little scary’: Japanese hopeful yet wary about return of Chinese travellers

Therefore, if we could halt the diplomatic spats and recognise our common ground instead, the focus would be on how China and other countries could work out acceptable ways to alleviate concerns and facilitate cross-border travel. This is an opportunity to cooperate and reduce tensions caused by other more complex problems.

The only thing needed is a shift in thinking. Instead of continuing to make the Covid-19 pandemic a topic for bickering and contention, we could start promoting post-pandemic recovery for all by resuming cross-border travel without unnecessary restrictions.

April Zhang is the founder of MSL Master and the author of the Mandarin Express textbook series and the Chinese Reading and Writing textbook series

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