China has announced the easing of restrictions to allow some foreigners entry into the country, but the decision comes with a caveat: it will only facilitate visas for those who have been inoculated with Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccines.

In an interview with The Independent, RPI Director Dr. Deepa Ollapally explained the potential impact of China’s new visa rule.

“China’s new rule is couched as promoting ‘people-to-people exchanges,’ but requiring foreigners to take a Chinese-made vaccine is going to make it harder not easier for people to visit the country. So the motivation lies elsewhere,” said Dr Deepa Ollapally.

Dr Ollapally also said the move is going to put a lot of pressure on those who want to do business in China, let alone tourists, and it could “end up being a back-door way to force countries to accept Chinese vaccines whether they like it or not.”