China said Tuesday, April 25, that it would no longer need coronavirus PCR test results as a condition of entry to the country. All incoming passengers would only be required to produce antigen testing results performed within 48 hours before boarding planes.

This marks yet another milestone toward reopening after a lengthy period of isolation during the pandemic.

Latest Policy Relaxation

In a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said airlines would no longer be obliged to verify documentation of a negative rapid antigen test beginning on April 29. Previously, the nation relaxed this policy toward countries like New Zealand and Malaysia.

Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, had called for the elimination of the PCR test requirement just one day before the rule change was announced. According to New York Times, he cited the fact that the procedure was inconvenient and expensive for many travelers and was driven by a "predominance of geopolitical considerations."

Based on a blog post published by Huang on the New York-based council's website, the regulation is alienating the overseas Chinese diaspora, stifling China's tourist economy, and slowing the country's post-Covid reopening efforts.

China has consistently argued that its Covid restrictions were based on science and not politics. Spokesperson Mao said that the country would continue to scientifically optimize its regulations.

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China's Air Travels

Government statistics revealed that foreign flights in the first quarter of 2019 were just 12.4% of the 2019 level. Thus, the decision to abolish the requirement for PCR test results comes at a time when air travel in and out of China is recovering at a slow rate.

After a massive reopening infection wave affected up to 37 million people in a day, China kept its PCR testing regulation in place for months after it had discarded other travel curbs like quarantine out of fear for new variants.

However, SCMP reported that additional obstacles must be overcome before international aviation traffic to and from China can fully resume.

Subhas Menon, director general of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, stated in February that it would take at least a year to get back to pre-pandemic levels due to sky-high prices, restricted plane capacity, and a backlog having passports and visas granted.

The Zero-Covid Policy

China instituted the world's strictest coronavirus restrictions for three years, complete with lockdowns and frequent mass testing, all in the hope of achieving "zero Covid."

The administration then suddenly scrapped those regulations in December 2022 as the economy tanked. However, the virus spread rapidly, and demonstrations erupted throughout the nation. Since then, Beijing has proclaimed its openness to the globe and actively courted international investors and diplomats.

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