China says COVID-19 testing of travelers in Europe is discriminatory

China says the decision by a number of European countries to screen travelers is discriminatory.

In a news conference at China’s embassy to the UK in London, spokesperson Minister-Counsellor Bi Haibo said “It’s very difficult to have accurate COVID-19 statistics.”

Bi said China continues to release relevant information in a timely, open and transparent manner, including viral genetic data on recent COVID-19 infections in China via GISAID,  the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian flu Data – and China’s “epidemic situation” remains “predictable and under control.”

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But while travel in and out of China should start getting easier from Sunday, after almost three years of restrictions, several countries, including the UK, Israel, South Korea and Spain, have announced testing for travelers arriving from China after cases there surged when Beijing began relaxing its zero COVID-19 policy.

China says the new travel requirements are unjustified.

“We’re strongly opposed at any attempts to manipulate COVID-19 for political purposes,” Minister-Counsellor Bi said. “We say no to this kind of attempt, and we say no to any discriminatory measures… because in fighting the pandemic, fighting COVID-19, we should go for unity, solidarity and cooperation.”

The UK says it is taking a “balanced and precautionary approach” due to a “lack of comprehensive health information shared by China.” The World Health Organization says China’s new way of reporting COVID-19 cases and casualties are not showing the true impact.

Bi said he hopes governments will listen to the science and waste no more time in getting back to business.

“The fallacy that China’s economy under COVID-19 would take a heavy toll or even threaten the world economy, will collapse itself,” he said.

“China has always put the people and their lives above all else and based on China’s reality, developed timely COVID-19 policies that serve the interests of the greatest possible majority of the Chinese people.”