### Geopolitical Implications of China’s Expanded Visa-Free Policy

Some European and Southeast Asian nationals can now travel to China visa-free, with geopolitics playing a significant role.

Over the past three months, China has significantly expanded its visa-free program, indicating its increased efforts to boost tourism and cross-border business.

Beijing states that the purpose of relaxing the policy is to “promote China’s high-level development and high-level opening up,” and it plans to offer more visa-free travel and expand mutual visa exemption agreements.

### Expansion of Visa-Free Policies

On March 7, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Beijing has extended its 15-day visa-free policy to six additional European countries. Besides Hungary, this includes Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

This means that from March 14 to November 30, citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting friends and relatives, and transiting. This extends the policy announced on November 24, 2023, which included five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain) and Malaysia, with the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Recently, China also signed a mutual visa exemption agreement with Thailand. This move aligns with the Chinese government’s commitment in its 2024 employment report to facilitate foreigners working, studying, and traveling in China.

Previously, citizens of Japan, Brunei, and Singapore holding valid passports could enter China visa-free for 15 days, but this policy was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. The policy was reinstated for Brunei and Singaporean citizens on July 26, 2023, with the latter’s visa-free stay extended to 30 days from February 2024. However, the situation remains unchanged for Japan.

### Impact on Tourism and Investment

Border traffic remains far below pre-COVID-19 levels. In 2023, 210 million tourists entered China, reaching 62.9% of 2019 levels.

The new entry policy comes at a time when foreign investment in China is declining due to strained relations with Western governments. Three years of strict zero-COVID restrictions and an uncertain regulatory environment have also weakened business confidence and hindered tourism.

The changes in visa policies have been welcomed by foreign chambers of commerce, though some remain skeptical of their impact. They argue that slow growth, geopolitical concerns, and global high interest rates are hindering foreign investment in China, and the visa policy alone will not reverse this trend.

### Strategic Focus on Europe and Southeast Asia

Apart from Southeast Asian countries, Europe is clearly a strategic focus for the Chinese government. By relaxing visa restrictions, China is signaling which countries are important diplomatic priorities. Notably absent from this privileged list are countries like Japan and the UK. Japanese passport holders enjoyed a 15-day visa-free policy before the pandemic, but unlike Singapore and Brunei, this has not been reinstated for Japan.

Although China’s post-pandemic entry policy covers almost all major European economies, the UK is also excluded. Beijing’s different approach to the visa policies for the UK and Japan indicates the consideration of geopolitical factors. Both Japan and the UK have shown stronger alignment with the US, which disappoints Beijing. It is evident that both countries are committed to Washington’s efforts to curb and suppress China’s growing influence in Europe.

China has taken various measures to facilitate foreigners coming to China for business, education, and tourism. The latest efforts aim to attract more overseas tourists. These relaxed entry rules have led to a surge in arrivals, which is crucial for helping the struggling economy regain its footing. Therefore, Beijing hopes to improve relations through cultural exchanges first.

(Author: Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged and Researcher at the Eurasia Center of Neumann János University)

(Cover photo: February 21, 2024, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. Photo: Zhang Bin/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images)