EU and Beijing heading for dispute over Covid restrictions on Chinese travellers

Traveller wearing face masks with their luggage walk through the international flight departure terminal entrance gate at the capital airport in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2022. Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The European Union and China are moving closer to a political standoff over the Covid-19 crisis, with Beijing rejecting travel restrictions some EU nations have started to impose that could be expanded in coming days.

An EU offer of help, including vaccine donations, was as good as slapped down with Beijing insisting the situation was “under control” and medical provisions “in adequate supply”, government spokesperson Mao Ning said.