JAKARTA - Chinese state media have warned of an increase in the number of foreign governments imposing COVID tests on travelers from China, calling the action "discriminatory."
After closing all of its borders for three years, imposing strict lockdown and relentless testing regimes, Beijing suddenly turned around to live with the virus on December 7, bringing infections to spread rapidly in recent weeks.
Korea and Spain on Friday joined a growing list of countries, including the United States, India and others, which have imposed COVID tests for travelers from China, due to concerns about the scale of the COVID outbreak and skepticism about Beijing's health statistics.
Spain followed Italy's lead to become the second of 27 block members to require tests for travelers from China.
"At the national level, we will implement airport controls requiring all passengers arriving from China to test negative for COVID-19 or proof of complete vaccination," Health Minister Carolina Darias said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia said it would screen all international arrivals for fever.
"The real goal is to sabotage China's three-year COVID-19 control efforts and attack the country's system," the Global Times government-owned tabloid said in an article late Thursday, calling the restrictions "baseless" and "discriminatory."
However, not all countries apply tests. Members of the European Union, in particular, are divided.
Over the past few days, officials in France, Germany, and Portugal have said they see no need for current new restrictions, while Austria has stressed the economic benefits of returning Chinese tourists to Europe.
It is known, China will stop requiring incoming travelers to quarantine starting January 8. But it will still demand a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of departure.
Separately, senior Chinese health officials held a video conference with the World Health Organization on Friday, exchanging views on the current epidemic situation, China's National Health Commission said in a statement without elaborating.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the day before the organization he led needed more information to assess China's latest spike in infections, without taking a position on travel test issues.
Meanwhile, EU health experts are expected to hold a response meeting on the COVID-19 crisis in China, according to EU sources.
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