Beijing on Tuesday condemned the introduction of negative COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving from China after entering the territory of several countries, warning that it may resort to “countermeasures” in response, AFP reported.

“Some countries have introduced entry restrictions for Chinese travelers only. It has no scientific basis and some practices are unacceptable,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said, adding that China could “take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity.”

Since 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has kept its borders mostly closed to foreign nationals.

For almost three years now, the country has not issued tourist visas and imposed mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

This isolation measure will be lifted on January 8, but it will still be necessary to provide a screening test taken less than 48 hours before entering Chinese territory.

Three years after the first cases of the coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China abruptly suspended its draconian “zero COVID” policy on December 7. Since the lifting of restrictions, Chinese hospitals have been overwhelmed by an increasing number of patients with COVID-19.

In the context of the outbreak of infection in China, many countries, including France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, in unison with the United States, Canada and South Korea, have decided to introduce a test for COVID-19 for travelers coming from China, Agerpres notes.