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At a press conference on November 22, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Lin Jian, announced the resumption of short-term visa exemptions for Japanese. China had previously allowed visa-free travel for short stays of up to 15 days for Japanese nationals. However, it suspended this measure in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysts believe the resumption of visa exemptions aims to foster trade with Japan. Many also suspect that China is seeking to strengthen relations with countries like Japan ahead of United States President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
Effective from November 30 through December 31, 2025, the policy allows visa-free travel for short stays of up to 30 days. These exemptions cover travel purposes such as business and tourism.
Japan Remains Cautious
Beijing has now approved visa-free travel for short stays to nine countries, including Japan, Bulgaria, Romania, and Malta. With this addition, the total number of visa-exempt countries stands at 38.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China only granted short-term visa exemptions to three countries: Japan, Singapore, and Brunei. After the pandemic subsided, it expanded the list of countries eligible for exemptions but excluded Japan until now.
Several Japanese nationals remain detained in China, including businessmen. Nevertheless, Japan's business community has urged the resumption of visa exemptions. However, the Chinese government insisted on "reciprocity," requesting similar exemptions for Chinese travelers to Japan, which stalled progress.
According to experts on Japan-China relations, Japan remains firm in its stance against granting visa exemptions for Chinese nationals.
Shifting Ties
On November 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Lima, Peru. During their meeting, Xi expressed a strong commitment to advancing people-to-people exchanges between Japan and China.
Following their discussion, the resumption of Japan's short-term visa exemptions seems to have gained traction. China views Ishiba as a "moderate" compared to former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and hopes for a shift toward stabilizing relations with Japan.
With the prolonged real estate slump, China's economy has stagnated, and the country is increasingly reliant on foreign investment. On November 21, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce published a notice on its website detailing measures to promote stable trade growth. These included expanding the list of countries eligible for unilateral visa exemptions.
Preparing for Trump
Additionally, China is actively working to improve relations with US allies and other nations in preparation for the second Trump administration. Seoul's ties with China had deteriorated under President Yoon Suk-yeol. However, on November 8, Beijing added South Korea to its list of visa-exempt countries for the first time.
Significant challenges remain in Japan-China people-to-people exchanges. These include the arbitrary detention of Japanese citizens under its anti-espionage law.
Another significant issue is the safety of Japanese citizens in China. The lack of detailed information about the stabbing death of a Japanese boy in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, has yet to be resolved.
Furthermore, the current visa exemption measure is set to last until the end of 2025. China may bring up reciprocity again when discussing a potential extension.
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Author: Shohei Mitsuka
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