On November 22, Chinese authorities announced an expansion of the nation’s visa-free list, granting a 30-day visa waiver to visitors from nine countries including Japan. This policy will take effect from November 30, 2024, and last until December 31, 2025.
Earlier this year, there were widespread calls from various sectors in Japan for China to resume its visa-free policy for Japanese citizens.
In late January, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded directly:
"We look forward to Japan working with us to enhance mutual convenience for personnel exchanges."
At the time, discussions about the principle of reciprocity left Japanese officials in a difficult position:
"Introducing a reciprocity principle, which has not existed before, presents significant challenges," they responded.
Recently, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Japanese authorities are planning to simplify visa application procedures for Chinese citizens.
Now, with China extending an olive branch through its visa-free policy, attention turns to Japan: What will its next move be?
