China Airlifts 10,000 Citizens Home as Middle-East Conflict Disrupts Flights
China’s Expanding Visa-Free ‘Circle of Friends’ Drives Record Inbound Travel
Japan Approves Immigration Law Amendment—Visa Fees to Rise up to 30-Fold, JESTA Pre-Clearance Introduced
Latest News
Stranded Taiwan Compatriots Transit Shanghai Safely After Middle-East Flight Cancellations
After being stranded by Middle-East flight cancellations, more than 70 Taiwan residents flew into Shanghai in the early hours of 10 March and were re-ticketed to Taipei the same day. Shanghai immigration arranged special counters and e-gate processing, underscoring the mainland’s value as a contingency transit hub for cross-strait travellers.
Shanghai Customs Reports Record Traffic—7281 Ships, 4.1 Million Flights Support Rising Mobility
Shanghai Customs says international vessel calls, flights and passenger volumes all rose in January–February 2026, reflecting robust trade and travel demand. Smart-port tools and extended service hours are helping the city absorb growth, but corporates should still plan for congestion during major events.
China grants 30-day visa-free entry to UK nationals, widening Beijing’s unilateral waiver programme
Beijing has extended its 30-day visa-free scheme to British ordinary-passport holders until 31 December 2026. The waiver, announced on 9 March 2026, removes fees and paperwork for short-term business and leisure trips and is expected to boost UK-China trade missions and tourism flows. Companies should update travel policies but note that study, media and work activities still need conventional visas.
‘Shopping in China’ campaign touts easier visas and tax refunds to lure foreign spenders
China’s ‘Shopping in China’ campaign, highlighted on 9 March 2026, links wider visa-free entry and 240-hour transit waivers with faster tax refunds and multilingual payment tools to convert foreign arrivals into retail spending. The package lowers market-entry costs for global brands and simplifies short-term business trips, reinforcing China’s ambition to become a premier shopping destination.
Beijing vows to punish crimes against Chinese nationals overseas after Myanmar gang executions
During the NPC’s second plenary on 9 March 2026, China’s top judge pledged to punish anyone harming Chinese nationals overseas, citing the execution of 16 Myanmar crime-ring leaders. The announcement underscores Beijing’s expanding extraterritorial law-enforcement reach and has implications for corporate duty-of-care, staff compliance and cross-border policing cooperation.
Japanese island land row over Chinese investors fuels debate on foreign ownership and border security
A Guardian report on 9 March 2026 details how Chinese investors’ land purchases on Kasasa Island have stirred national-security fears in Japan, leading Tokyo to consider tougher foreign-ownership laws. The episode points to growing scrutiny of Chinese outbound investments and could translate into stricter visa and residency checks for mainland nationals seeking property abroad.