Her embassy China in Tokyo announced today that it is resuming the issuance of entry visas to Japanese citizens after a three-week suspension, which is expected to ease the diplomatic row.

China stopped issuing visas to the Japanese on January 10 in response to tightening entry rules for travelers from China, where the number of cases COVID-19 was furious.

Japan has introduced mandatory molecular testing for the novel coronavirus for travelers from China before departure and upon arrival. Beijing called Japan’s statement “discriminatory” and it remains in effect today.

“From today, the Embassy and Consulates General of the People’s Republic of China will resume issuing regular entry visas for Japanese citizens,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement, without specifying it on its website.

China has also suspended issuing visas to South Korean citizens following similar health measures taken by Seoul. So far, no decision to re-release them has been announced.

^{Source: APE, AFP, Reuters.}