Latest news with #ShanghaiPudongInternationalAirport
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
China Expands Travel Access As US Threatens Student Visas
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China has expanded the list of nations whose citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to the country, while in U.S., the government is seeking to crack down on the number of foreign students on American campuses. On Sunday, the Chinese government announced via state-run outlet Xinhua that it had begun trialing a policy which "unilaterally grants visa-free entry" to citizens from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. The government originally announced its intention to ease travel restrictions for the five nations in mid-May. Why It Matters The expansion of visa-free travel to China comes as the country spars with the U.S. over the ability of its citizens to study at American colleges. President Donald Trump's administration has said that pausing applications and revoking visas for Chinese students will "put America first, not China," but Beijing has urged the government to reconsider the plan. What To Know The government said that individuals from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will now be able to enter China for up to 30 days for "business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit." In its announcement on Tuesday, Beijing described the move as "part of China's broader efforts to expand visa-free access in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up," and as signifying the deepening ties between China and Latin America. International travelers walk through an immigration checkpoint at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on May 30, 2025, in China. International travelers walk through an immigration checkpoint at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on May 30, 2025, in China. VCG via AP The five nations have also participated in the Belt and Road Initiative, a project conceived in 2013 that has seen China invest in infrastructure in over 150 nations. As well as enhancing economic ties, the strategy is widely considered an effort by Beijing to increase China's geopolitical sway and raise demand for its currency, the yuan. According to business intelligence platform China Briefing, there are now 43 countries whose citizens enjoy unilateral visa-free travel to China, alongside 26 mutual visa exemption agreements applying to holders of ordinary passports. Several other nations, including Russia and Azerbaijan, are permitted visa-free travel for tour groups of no less than five people. In addition, 54 countries including the U.S. and U.K are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit, provided passport holders can show proof of their intention to travel to a third country. The latest announcement follows the news that the Trump administration had instructed embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas, part of a wider effort to curtail both legal and illegal immigration into the U.S. In addition to halting international student visas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week the government's plan to "aggressively revoke" visas for students from China. What People Are Saying The Chinese government in its Tuesday announcement, said: "Economic ties between China and Latin America have also deepened significantly. Bilateral trade has doubled over the past decade, surpassing 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Chinese exports, including electric vehicles, are increasingly popular in the region, while Latin American goods such as Chilean cherries and Argentine beef have become Chinese household staples. "China has been steadily adjusting and optimizing its visa policies to boost cross-border mobility," it added. "Since late 2023, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures." The U.S. State Department, in an announcement last week, said: "Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." What Happens Next? The policy on visa-free access is set to remain in effect until May of next year. As well as pausing student visas, the State Department said it plans on revising visa criteria "to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong."
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Airlines warn over weakening of global trade rules
A Boeing 737-89P of Shanghai Airlines taxis at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on April 17, 2025. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) NEW DELHI: The head of a global airlines industry body warned on Monday of damage to the economy and the air travel sector from growing trade barriers. "Like all forms of connectivity, flying makes the world more prosperous," International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh said at the group's annual meeting in New Delhi. "That stands in contrast to isolationism, trade barriers and the fragmentation of the multilateral rules-based system. These destroy wealth and lower living standards. For the times we live in, this is an important message," he said. IATA shaved a key forecast for 2025 industry-wide profits on Monday, blaming trade tensions and declining consumer confidence, while hitting out at "unacceptable" delays in jetliner deliveries that have hindered their growth plans. Sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump have stoked fears of an economic slowdown and squeezed discretionary spending, prompting many consumers especially in the United States to delay or scale back travel plans. They also threaten a decades-old pact between more than 30 countries to eliminate duties on aircraft and their parts. Walsh called for governments to "keep aerospace out of trade wars". IATA represents some 300 airlines accounting for more than 80% of global traffic. - Reuters
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
United Airlines flight to China diverted to San Francisco after pilot forgets passport
A United Airlines flight headed to Shanghai, China, had to turn around over the weekend after the pilot forgot to bring a passport, the airline company said. The mishap happened Saturday afternoon on United Flight 198 from Los Angeles International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Data on showed the flight took off on time just before 2 p.m. but was diverted to San Francisco, landing just after 5 p.m. There were 257 passengers and 13 crew members onboard. United said in a brief statement that the pilot on the flight did not have their passport, so the plane had to return to California, where a new crew would take passengers to China. The plane left Saturday evening, about six hours behind schedule. The airline said passengers were given meal vouchers and compensation for the inconvenience. This article was originally published on
NBC News
25-03-2025
- NBC News
United Airlines flight to China diverted to San Francisco after pilot forgets passport
A United Airlines flight headed to Shanghai, China, had to turn around over the weekend after the pilot forgot to bring a passport, the airline company said. The mishap happened Saturday afternoon on United Flight 198 from Los Angeles International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Data on showed the flight took off on time just before 2 p.m. but was diverted to San Francisco, landing just after 5 p.m. There were 257 passengers and 13 crew members onboard. United said in a brief statement that the pilot on the flight did not have their passport, so the plane had to return to California, where a new crew would take passengers to China. The plane left Saturday evening, about six hours behind schedule. The airline said passengers were given meal vouchers and compensation for the inconvenience.
