Recently, a video circulated on the Internet showed that on a Korean Air passenger plane bound for Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport in Liaoning, the flight attendants issued white signs to Korean passengers, asking them to go to a separate channel for nucleic acid testing after getting off the plane. So, what the hell is going on here?
Are non-Chinese passengers required to register? The airport, customs, and Korean Air have different opinions
The reporter called Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport on February 10 and asked whether non-Chinese nationals need to be listed after arriving at the airport.
The operator asked back: "Where did you fly from, is it South Korea?"
When the reporter asked about the measures to enter the airport from South Korea, the other party said: "We don't know much about the listing. Normally, if South Korea comes over, we will cooperate with the airline and customs to conduct nucleic acid testing. After the nucleic acid is completed, there is no need to wait. As a result, you can travel normally.”
The operator also said that Dalian Airport has not received a notice requiring non-Chinese passengers to put up a sign. When the reporter asked whether the sign was requested by the airline or the customs, the other party said: "Others, you can contact the relevant department, we don't know much about this for the time being."
The reporter then called the Dalian Customs hotline, and the call was automatically transferred to the General Administration of Customs of China in Beijing. After the reporter asked whether China Customs required non-Chinese nationals to carry their badges when entering the country, the operator replied: "For inbound passengers, if it is normal, they should make a normal health declaration and use the WeChat mini-program 'Customs Passenger Fingertip Service' ’, or just fill in the paper version of the health declaration on the spot, there are no other requirements.”
The operator of the General Administration of Customs of China also told reporters that China has canceled the nucleic acid testing of all entry personnel since January 8 this year, and entry personnel only need to declare the nucleic acid test results 48 hours before entry. For those who declare normally and have no abnormalities in the inspection, China Customs will directly release them into the country.
The operator also said that this policy applies to all people entering China: "The policy refers to all people entering China, and there is no specific distinction between Chinese and foreign personnel."
The reporter also called Korean Air, trying to ask for details. The operator said that if non-Chinese nationals need to hang a sign after arriving in Dalian on a Korean Air flight, they need to ask Dalian Airport: "We are currently flying to several cities in China, and the situation at each airport may be different. At present, we do not have any publicized or notified information about the operation method after arrival. Therefore, we need to directly contact the Dalian Airport official (only then) can we confirm.”
China and South Korea expected to lift each other's visa restrictions
At present, in China's Internet public opinion, there is no shortage of nationalist remarks made by netizens. Some netizens said that white is auspicious in South Korea, so it is auspicious to hang a white sign for Korean tourists.
Due to the spread of the new crown epidemic in China, South Korea required inbound passengers from China to provide negative nucleic acid certificates and undergo landing tests on January 2. The South Korean embassy and consulate in China also suspended the issuance of short-term residence visas for Chinese citizens to South Korea on the same day.
The Chinese embassy in South Korea announced on January 10 that it would stop issuing short-term visas for South Korean citizens to China.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chinese authorities have launched nucleic acid tests on non-Chinese passengers entering China from South Korea since February 1. In response to this situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in response to a Yonhap reporter’s question on February 1: “We are willing to work with other countries to facilitate the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel as much as possible. However, some countries insist on taking measures against Chinese citizens. Discriminatory measures, we have to respond in accordance with the principle of reciprocity."
South Korea's Central Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters stated on February 10 that South Korea will resume issuing short-term visas for Chinese citizens to South Korea from the 11th. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference held on the same day that South Korea's move "is a correct step towards reducing the barriers to personnel exchanges between the two countries." Korean citizens come to China with short-term visas.”