China will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world's second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.
  • nicetriangle
    84•7 months ago

    Sure, China’s got a lot of really cool stuff about it that would be awesome to see. But with the wealth of other countries around the world not operating as full on dictatorships, I’m gonna hard pass on visiting until they sort their shit out (so probably never)

    I like how they’ve suddenly realized that they’ve made a bad name for themselves around the world by being righteous dickheads so all of a sudden they’re softening their rhetoric and expecting everyone to buy it.

    The fact that this comment I’ve made alone might be grounds for arrest there is all that needs saying about it.

    • @GutsBerserk@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2•7 months ago

      First of all you are absolutely spot on. It all depends, people are losing jobs / getting canceled for talking against Israel’s atrocities.

        • @RedPandaRaider@feddit.deEnglish
          -7•7 months ago

          Then why is it that travelling to China specifically is so morally bad, but other countries like the US are fine?

          • nicetriangle
            3•7 months ago

            It’s a dictatorship and there’s plenty of awesome countries that are not dictatorships which I haven’t had a chance to visit yet.

            I didn’t say anything was more or less morally bad. I just have zero interest in visiting countries that rank so poorly on freedom indexes and I don’t care if said countries waive visa requirements.

              • nicetriangle
                2•7 months ago

                Hah, which country has a nationwide firewall block on websites like Wikipedia and YouTube?

                • @RedPandaRaider@feddit.deEnglish
                  0•7 months ago

                  Is the firewall the defining feature of a dictatorship to you?

                  And if you want to go in on it, every country does. Every country has the ability to order ISPs to block certain websites deemed illegal. Sometimes the government doesn’t even have to do it and providers on their own block certain sites.

    • @GregorGizeh@lemmy.zipEnglish
      33•7 months ago

      Als deutscher Staatsbürger kann ich fast überall ohne Visa einreisen. Warum sollte ich freiwillig ins chinesische dystopia fliegen?

      • @Hubi@feddit.deEnglish
        42•7 months ago

        Um der erste zu sein, der eine exotische Lungenerkrankung nach Europa einschleppt?

        • @elvith@feddit.deEnglish
          5•7 months ago

          Ja, so in etwa

          WHO statement on reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China - 22 November 2023

          […]

          On 21 November, media and ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. It is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities, or separate events.

          On 22 November, WHO requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism. We have also requested further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on health care systems. WHO is also in contact with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China.

          Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years. China has systems in place to capture information on trends in influenza, influenza-like illnesses, RSV and SARS-CoV-2, and reports to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.

          While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination; keeping distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing.

          WHO will continue to provide updates.

  • AutoTL;DRBEnglish
    7•7 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world’s second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.

    From Dec. 1 to Nov. 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

    China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world.

    The head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) hailed the announcement of a temporary visa exemption as “an important signal that can boost both tourism and economic exchange”.

    “Above all, the regulation facilitates the maintenance of German machines, the assurance of quality ‘Made in Germany’, entrepreneurial exchange and the cultivation of interpersonal contacts,” Volker Treier said in an interview with Reuters.

    French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is in Beijing, wrote on X: “An excellent new announcement on the occasion of my visit from my counterpart Wang Yi!”

    The original article contains 481 words, the summary contains 209 words. Saved 57%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!