August 10, 2023
1 min read

China lifts ban on group tours to S. Korea, US, Japan

Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced it will allow Chinese group tours to 78 countries, including South Korea, the US and Japan…reports Asian Lite News

China’s tourism authorities said on Thursday they have decided to lift the ban on group tours to South Korea, ending a six-year hiatus caused by frayed relations following the deployment of a US defense system to the South.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced it will allow Chinese group tours to 78 countries, including South Korea, the US and Japan, reports Yonhap News agency.

In January and March, China removed the group ban on some 60 countries in line with its eased coronavirus policy, but South Korea was excluded in a move widely viewed as an expression of Beijing’s unresolved feud against Seoul’s previous anti-coronavirus measures on entrants from China.

Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said it was currently in communication with China through diplomatic channels when asked about its stance on Beijing’s latest move, including the issue of streamlining tourist visas for South Korean nationals.

“South Korea and China have been in communication under the shared view that revitalizing people-to-people mutual exchanges is important,” Ahn Eun-ju, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry, told a regular press briefing.

Chinese group tours to South Korea have virtually been halted since March 2017 amid a bilateral rift over the deployment of the US defence shield, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), which Beijing sees as a security threat.

China began to gradually scrap its ban on group tours to South Korea, starting with some regions in December 2017, but they were suspended once again due to the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.

ALSO READ: ‘China hacked Japan’s sensitive defence networks’
Previous Story

KSrelief and Britain join forces in $9.16m donation to aid Sudan

Next Story

I-Day: Section 144 imposed near Red Fort and other landmarks

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan’s Shadow War in Balochistan

At least 50 killed by Pakistan-backed death squads in Balochistan in April, says HRCB — toll expected to rise in May….reports Asian Lite News The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) reported

Russia, Ukraine Resume Talks

The upcoming talks follow a significant hiatus in diplomatic engagement between the two nations, which have been locked in a brutal conflict since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Russia and

UN Pays Tribute to Indian Soldiers

Thursday was observed as the 77th UN Peacekeepers Day, honouring the work of 61,353 peacekeepers, of whom 5,375 hailed from India….reports Asian Lite News Brigadier Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh, who

Modi’s New Warfare Playbook

Modi has upended the old playbook and India and Pakistan are entering dangerous new territory where nuclear deterrence is no longer a guarantee against conventional conflict…writes Collins Chong Yew Keat The India-Pakistan

World needs Dubai’s ambition: Morgan

Piers Morgan has hailed Dubai’s transformation as an example of what visionary leadership can achieve. British broadcaster Piers Morgan has praised the extraordinary ambition and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Yellen to visit China this week to deepen communication

Yellen will discuss a range of issues, including global macroeconomy

UK, US rule out no-fly zone over Ukraine

During a joint news conference in Washington alongside his British