It has been reported that China is demanding that foreign passengers boarding flights from South Korea arriving at Dalian Airport in Liaoning Province wear white flight tickets.
According to Chinese media outlets such as Pyeongmyeon Shinwon on the 9th, a video was recently posted on Weibo of flight attendants distributing white cards that can be hung around the neck to passengers on board.
The media reported, “Korean Air flight attendants handed out white tickets to non-Chinese nationals arriving from Korea and other countries around the time of landing, and informed them that they should take these tickets to the foreigner-only aisle and undergo a PCR (genetic amplification) test.” .
As a result of the Chinese media’s inquiry to Dalian Airport, the airport said, “We are only in charge of landing. The ticket distribution is the responsibility of the airline, and the PCR test is the responsibility of the customs (customs).”
In response, Korean Air countered, saying, “We do not have the authority to make people wear passports.” He added, “The white ticket is distributed not only to Koreans but also to all non-Chinese entrants.”
Some have suggested that China is taking retaliatory measures against South Korea. In January, as the COVID-19 spread in China, the South Korean government required all travelers arriving from China to wear yellow cards around their necks at Incheon International Airport. This is to easily lead them to the PCR test site.
Since then, there have been complaints from China that “Korea discriminates against China.” Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said, “I am very concerned and regretful about the unfair and discriminatory treatment that Chinese nationals have suffered in the process of entering[Korea].”
The South Korean government has significantly strengthened quarantine measures for entrants from China, including restricting the issuance of short-term visas to China. In response, the Chinese government also took retaliatory measures, such as suspending the issuance of short-term visas to Koreans to China.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.