After almost three years of quarantines, China is reopening its borders this week as the Lunar New Year travel rush kicks in. It's a move with economic implications around the world, including in Africa where African traders hope to reap the benefits of cheap Chinese-made goods, and African countries hope to lure Chinese tourists.
Vaccines and Treatments
In order to reopen, China will likely need to improve vaccination rates, ramp up surge and intensive care capacity in hospitals, stockpile antiviral medications, and change its lockdown reaction to outbreaks. But the country has yet to make many of these preparations, experts say.
In fact, China’s elderly population is particularly wary of vaccines, with only around 66% of those over 80 vaccinated by its standards and only 40% receiving booster shots as of December 1. This has been an important factor in boosting transmission, experts say.
Another issue is that China uses homegrown vaccines, which are believed to elicit lower antibody responses than more effective mRNA vaccines used by other countries, and it doesn’t approve foreign-made mRNA vaccines for use. These factors could contribute to more severe cases if the disease spreads unchecked, according to modeling from researchers at Shanghai’s Fudan University.
While China is preparing to reopen, it still needs to boost its elderly vaccination rate, stockpile antiviral medications, ramp up surge and intensive care capacity in hospital, and change its lockdown reaction to outbreaks. If it doesn’t take those steps, China will face a much higher toll in the future, experts warn.
Travel Requirements
After three years of self-imposed isolation, China has reopened its borders and allowed people to cross into Hong Kong by land, air or sea. The reopening of these ports marks the final pillar in China’s zero-COVID policy and signals that the country is finally beginning to ease restrictions on travel.
Passengers arriving in China from overseas will now need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. This is in contrast to the previous rule that required a positive test on arrival.
While this is a big step in the direction of travel freedom, it’s important to note that it still doesn’t allow for visa-free entry. In order to travel to China, you will need a valid visa in one of these categories:
These are the most commonly used types of Chinese visas and they are issued for both work and leisure. However, there are other types of Chinese visas that may be more appropriate for your specific trip to China, so it’s important to check with a professional travel agent before booking.
International Relations
International relations (IR) is the study of interactions between nations and other actors, such as intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While originally focused on state-to-state interactions, it has become increasingly interdisciplinary, encompassing economic, social and cultural interactions as well.
One of the most important aspects of IR is the idea of sovereignty. Often thought of as the foundation for the concepts of interdependence and dependence, sovereignty is the belief that a group has absolute power over its own territory.
Another aspect of international relations is diplomacy, the practice of communication and negotiation between representatives from states. While diplomacy is often thought of as the most effective tool for international relations, other tools such as sanctions, force and adjusting trade regulations are also important.
The reopening of China's borders is a significant event for the global economy and could lead to further increases in economic growth, household consumption, and inflation as it helps to spur demand for commodities such as copper and oil. However, it is still early days and there are many risks to the reopening of China's economy so no one should be declaring victory at this point.
Security
Several key security measures have been implemented to reopen China’s doors after more than two years of zero COVID (coronavirus) restrictions. These include a well-funded COVID vaccination program, a new infected person tracking system, and improved public transport infrastructure.
The country has also taken a number of other laudable steps to protect its citizens from the virus and its ill effects. Those include improving vaccine efficacy, introducing an inhaled COVID-19 vaccine, and relaxing quarantine requirements for inbound travelers.
As for the actual reopening, there are many details to be ironed out before it happens. Some of these include timing and filing requirements, actions to prevent the spread of the virus at work, measures for protecting personal data gathered in the fight against COVID-19, and the most important of all: what should be done if a business owner is found to have contracted the virus at the office. The best way to prepare for the reopening is to stay informed of the latest updates.