Instead of endless tests and quarantine, business travelers to China now face getting trampled underfoot by stampeding tourists - and the occasional post-pandemic geopolitical spat.

Zero-Covid has fallen farther and faster than anyone dared to think even just a few months ago. The mainland’s travel restrictions, among the last on the chopping block, were dropped on the weekend, just in time for the Lunar New Year.

That, together with the scrapping of Hong Kong’s widely unpopular yet tolerated «LeaveHomeSafe» contact tracing app, is a sign that finally, in much of Greater China, the brunt of the pandemic is now in the rear-view mirror.

But instead of facing unending PCR tests and long quarantines, the average business traveler now contends with browbeaten, harried airport staff as well as the occasional post-Covid 19 geopolitical spat.

Japan First

The problem with the latter is that they are likely to be impromptu, ad hoc, and make little sense. As finews.asia reported, the first wave sign of trouble came with Japan in late December, which upped testing requirements for travelers from China.

Initially, it even had the gall to ban all flights from Hong Kong, although that measure has apparently been rescinded following strong objections by the city’s government, at least according to the «Hong Kong Free Press».

Now, the news and information website reports that Japanese authorities allow the city’s flights to land but will still limit the number of departures.

Wastewater Fiasco

In early January, that was followed by an increasing number of countries in the world announcing they would be testing the wastewater of airliners from China for Covid-19 based on the sharp number of rising cases on the mainland as a result of the relaxation of zero-Covid.

As finews.asia then indicated, the WHO subsequently took a harder tack while the EU got into the fray, as did the US.

But the danger with all these escalating measures is that everyone stops reading the details and just starts reacting. The EU, for example, which has always asked for reciprocity related to Covid-19, something it clearly wasn’t getting in the depth of zero-Covid, has now simply agreed on a coordinated precautionary approach among member states.

Quid Pro What?

With that, it is encouraging all countries to introduce a requirement for negative Covid-19 tests for arrivals from China even though the latter currently requires negative Covid tests and quarantine for anyone and everyone entering.

According to «euronews», that step angered Beijing, which characterized the step as discrimination against its citizens. But that might be taking it a bit far given that no one is being disavowed, ignored, or disenfranchised here – just tested, not even quarantined.

Entirely New Level

All of this reached an entirely new level Tuesday despite a statement being released by the South Korean government related to a conversation between its foreign minister, Park Jin, and China’s, Qin Gang.

In it, the South Korean explained that the government’s quarantine policy was based on scientific evidence and that the two ministers had agreed to communicate and cooperate in stabilizing the Covid-19 situation, among other issues.

But that did not stop China from suspending visas for South Koreans later in the day, something it also did for travelers from Japan, at least according to the «South China Morning Post» (paywall).

Major Escalation

The only thing that is now certain is that all this represents a major escalation and an additional risk for anyone going to the mainland.

Lest we forget, today’s traveler into China is tomorrow’s departee.

Or, in the words of a famous but very overplayed 1970s rock song - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.