Beijing threatens response to 'unacceptable' virus measures

A senior Hong Kong official also criticized the steps taken by some other countries. Some countries have applied the requirements to passengers from Hong Kong and Macao

Western mRNA vaccines are widely used in Hong Kong.

Even if you have all 5 western mRNA you'll still need a test, which implies that health authorities in Europe and North America question the effectiveness of these vaccines in working against the XBB 1.5 variant.

It's not about "Vaccination" status, but about whether your deemed carrying an infectious disease.

There is another way of dealing with this, increase he medical insurance surcharge based upon high risk.... now that may pose an issue for UK Nationals going to China and coming back, but then ... (a) don't go, (b) don't come back, and (c)... respect the need for quarantine.

As for (c), I think we need setup a better system which could be supported via our usual travel insurance schemes... right now, they'd be loosing money, so it's a non-topic....

I saw on the news that many of the travelers coming from China being tested for Covid at Narita tested positive, they are being sent to hotels to quarantine at the expense of the Japanese gov't. This has to stop. If Chinese tourists want to visit, they must have extra covid insurance to cover any quarantine costs, and not us tax payers paying for them to stay! I don't think any other gov't is doing anything like that in the world!

You'd think China would be more sensitive to the world's worries considering this whole scenario brings flashbacks of 2020 when millions of Chinese were let out before Chinese New Year to infect the world and the worldwide economy and social life was screwed up for two years. Maybe the electorate of these countries have traumatic memories of the havoc China caused and are quite happy to have some restrictions. I know I am. China is really such an inconsiderate and petulant country.

You'd think China would be more sensitive to the world's worries considering this whole scenario brings flashbacks of 2020 when millions of Chinese were let out before Chinese New Year to infect the world

Indeed. They have to keep the rhetoric up after spending 2.5 years screwing the pouch. There us so much to lose at this stage. In summary, the flip-flop in policy by China followed unprecedented protests over the policy championed by Xi, marking the strongest show of public defiance in his decade-old presidency and coinciding with grim growth figures for the country’s $17tn economy.

To quote Pro Chinese posters on this site “ Our Country Our Rules”

Don’t be mad at the western world for refusing to use vaccines and drugs made in the west that actually works. (Phizer)

China (CCP) made its bed. Unfortunately its people had to pay the price.

You'd think China would be more sensitive to the world's worries considering this whole scenario brings flashbacks of 2020 when millions of Chinese were let out before Chinese New Year to infect the world and the worldwide economy and social life was screwed up for two years. Maybe the electorate of these countries have traumatic memories of the havoc China caused and are quite happy to have some restrictions. I know I am. China is really such an inconsiderate and petulant country.

Well said, and we do have bad memories of early 2020..

"We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes"

No way China would ever say something like this. I mean, no waaaay the kettle calling the pot black...

Hypocrites.

Send Brazil former President,back to Brazil,he entered the US unvaccinated

The rule only applies to flights, not ships or border crossings. Unvaccinated Canadians enter the US by car all the time.

And the State department can override the CDC guidance at will.

The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China

That's especially rich, considering China itself currently demands a negative pre-departure PCR test, an on-arrival test, and eight days of quarantine.

The rule only applies to flights, not ships or border crossings. Unvaccinated Canadians enter the US by car all the time.

No, that's wrong:

As of Thursday, April 21, 2022, DHS will extend COVID-19-related land border entry requirements. Non-U.S. travelers seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request. 

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/fact-sheet-guidance-travelers-enter-us-land-ports-entry-and-ferry-terminals

threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.

I will laugh if China bans foreigners from entering because of this because I am sure 99.9999% of people have any desire to go there in the near future.

BroncoToday  09:13 am JST

Unvaccinated Canadians enter the US by car all the time.*

This is true.

StrangerlandToday  09:24 am JST

No, that's wrong:

No, Bronco is right.

The US does not require proof of vaccination, and at the land crossing the border guard will only ask if you are vaccinated.

The US does not require proof of vaccination, and at the land crossing the border guard will only ask if you are vaccinated.

I provided a link from homeland security saying otherwise:

As of Thursday, April 21, 2022, DHS will extend COVID-19-related land border entry requirements. Non-U.S. travelers seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request. 

But yeah, your unsupported claim sounds more legit than homeland security. You must be so smart!

What an arrogant country!

Just ban entry of anyone from China until the CCP is gone.

Health officials will test a sample of passengers when they arrive in the UK, but no quarantine is required for those who test positive, he said.

Oh you test positive ?

No worries then , come on in have some scones and cream with your tea.

The British have gone barmy

I think retaliation is perfectly acceptable, so long as it's China imposing similar restrictions on nations with similar rates of infection. Beyond that, it's just petty, and THAT is the thing that is "unscientific". That said, Japan is seeing a MASSIVE increase in infection and deaths resulting from Covid, so will they accept similar "protections" imposed on Japan if and when the time comes? That goes for other nations, too, but given the massive holiday exodus and return we just had here, well...

The Chinese dictatorship does nothing but constantly whine. A bleating old woman.

It's a Chinese virus, lest we forget.

That said, Japan is seeing a MASSIVE increase in infection and deaths resulting from Covid, so will they accept similar "protections" imposed on Japan if and when the time comes?

Probably, if begrudgingly. Other countries' restrictions are not up to Japan, just like Japan's two-and-a-half year long extensive restrictions were not up to the other countries.

But what are the chances that Japan will see similar infection numbers as China? Their current surge started when they abruptly switched from "Zero Covid" into abject ignorance of the problem. Neither happened in Japan.

GarthgoyleToday  09:05 am JST

"We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes"

No way China would ever say something like this. I mean, no waaaay the kettle calling the pot black...

Hypocrites.

Nyah nyah nyah. More sassy lip from the CCP. That's Xi % Co. for you. Sass sass sass.

> Roy SophveasonToday  01:35 pm JST

That said, Japan is seeing a MASSIVE increase in infection and deaths resulting from Covid, so will they accept similar "protections" imposed on Japan if and when the time comes?

Probably, if begrudgingly. Other countries' restrictions are not up to Japan, just like Japan's two-and-a-half year long extensive restrictions were not up to the other countries.

But what are the chances that Japan will see similar infection numbers as China? Their current surge started when they abruptly switched from "Zero Covid" into abject ignorance of the problem. Neither happened in Japan.

I see that too myself but Japan has been handling it quite a bit better than most nations in the Orient and Pacific. And with Tokyo being the largest city in the world they've been doing a better job with handling CoVid, even if cases are rising again.

"We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.

'Mao Ning'. Any relation to that murderous bastard who killed millions of his own Chinese people?

China banned all visitors.

China - the place I want to listen to about virus science. NOT!

Just add $30 to every ticket and force people departing the planes from China to get a western vaccine before going to immigration.

J&J makes a 1 shot immunization. It isn't as effective as the mRNA ones, but to has been shown to prevent serious complications.

Refuse the vaccine, be ejected from the country.

Some countries required all non-citizen visitors to carry approved US$50,000 medical insurance as a condition of entry. The country's govt chose which insurance would suffice. This requirement effectively doubled the plane ticket cost to get there.

Considering that medical professionals in China are saying that 70% of the people in Shanghi have COVID now, seems like a reasonable response. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3205455/covid-19-china-70-cent-shanghais-population-has-now-been-infected-says-leading-city-doctor

Considering that until two days ago my wife was sitting in a Shanghai hotel at her own expense for her own required five day quarantine after flying there from abroad, I think the Chinese have a bit of cheek to complain about others taking similar measures.

China banned all visitors.

Not entirely but the reasons for allowing entry were pretty restricted and the whole adventure cost a fortune! Our former 10 year visas that cost $148 were cancelled and now you can only get a visa that lasts 3 months, at $400 a pop. The only reason my wife could get in was under a family emergency carve out, her mother died. Then there were the multiple tests before departure, the pain of loading the Chinese government covid app on her cell phone, ad nauseum.

They are making sure that virus should reach each and every country...