Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Photo: The EurAsian Times

The notice states that the issuance of ordinary visas to Japanese nationals will be resumed in due course, which is considered a countermeasure by China after the Japanese government last week announced strengthened epidemic measures for visitors entering Japan from China starting January 8.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference on Tuesday in Beijing: “Regrettably, a handful of countries, in disregard of science, facts and their actual epidemic situation, have insisted on taking discriminatory entry restriction measures targeting China. China firmly rejects this and will take reciprocal measures.”

“We once again call on relevant countries to make sure that their COVID response measures are fact-based, science-based and proportionate. COVID response should not be used as a pretext for political manipulation. It should not be discriminatory and should not affect normal cross-border travel and people-to-people exchange and cooperation,” he said.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Wednesday called China’s decision "extremely regrettable". Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who was on a visit to the Americas on Tuesday, expressed protest and the Japanese side sent a note requesting China to lift restrictions.

Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea announced that China stops issuing short-term visas to Korean citizens for visiting relatives, business, tourism, medical treatment, transit and personal matters.