On January 6, the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia answered questions from Indonesian media Liptan6 about China's COVID-19 response measures adjustments. The full text is as follows:

1. Q: As COVID-19 infections in China continue to rise, more than a dozen countries have announced new entry restrictions on travelers arriving from China. Some countries are reintroducing compulsory pre-flight COVID-19 tests for people flying from China. Others are requiring testing upon arrival and quarantine for those who test positive. One country, has even decided to ban entry to all travelers coming from China. The Chinese Government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China and threatened countermeasures against those countries. What are the responses from the embassy of China?

A: Since COVID-19 began three years ago, the Chinese Government has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have poured all our efforts and resources into protecting the life and health of every Chinese, which enabled us to withstand each wave of the epidemic, and get the nation through the difficult time when the virus was wreaking the deadliest havoc. Globally speaking, China has had the lowest rates of severe cases and mortality. 

China has actively participated in international cooperation against the pandemic and immediately joined the international response to the COVID-19 challenge. China proposed the vision of a Global Community of Health for all, fully leveraged its strengths, ensured stability of global anti-epidemic supply chains, and actively advanced international cooperation in vaccines to contribute to the global fight against COVID-19. China was the first country that has announced to make vaccines a global public good, supported waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, and conducted joint production of vaccines with developing countries. China has supplied more than 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Based on the latest changes in the COVID-19 situation and the circumstances facing our response, the competent authorities in China have shared information in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the law, and actively communicate with WHO.  

With Omicron much less pathogenic and deadly, and China's treatment, testing and vaccination capacity steadily on the rise, the Chinese Government has taken initiative to refine the COVID-19 response measures in light of the evolving situation, and effectively coordinated COVID-19 response with economic and social development. Recently, we issued steps to treat COVID-19 as a Class-B instead of Class-A infectious disease, shifting the focus of our response from stemming infection to preventing severe cases and caring for health, and adopted provisional measures on cross-border travel, which are reasonable and justified. 

China's decision to adjust its COVID-19 prevention measures was an proactive optimization adjustment, which was made in a scientific manner based on assessing the characteristics of the virus and the epidemic situation, and referring to the epidemic prevention practices of other countries. This decision is science-based, timely and necessary. The aim is to protect the lives and health of the people and reduce the impact of the epidemic on economic and social development to the maximum extent possible. It is believed that with the release of accumulated demands and the policy effects, Chinese economy will grow rapidly and its long-term sound fundamentals will remain unchanged, which will stimulate the strong recovery of the global economy.

China believes that for all countries, COVID-19 response measures need to be science-based and proportionate, and apply equally to people of all countries without affecting normal travel and people-to-people exchange and cooperation. China will continue to adapt and adjust our COVID-19 response measures in light of the latest COVID-19 situation, and step up communication with the rest of the international community and work together to prevail over COVID-19, and better facilitate the safe and orderly cross-border travel of Chinese and foreign nationals and international exchange and cooperation.

2. Q：Chinese officials have called out other countries for their COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers coming from China, threatening to impose countermeasures in response. What kind of sanctions or actions that will be given?

A: I don't think that's sanction or something like that. I want to emphasize that, since COVID-19 began, China has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have made the best effort to protect people's life and health and effectively coordinated COVID-19 response with economic and social development. The Chinese Government has taken responsible policies and measures, done its best and made important contributions to protecting Chinese people's lives and health, as well as promoting global solidarity against the pandemic and world economic recovery and growth. A small number of countries have deliberately hyped up and even misrepresented China's COVID-19 response measures adjustment, and yet turned a blind eye to the deficiencies and heavy price paid in their own countries’ COVID-19 response. This is nothing but double standards. We truly hope the focus will be on tackling the virus rather than politicizing the COVID-19 issue, and countries can step up solidarity and make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic at an early date.

3. Q：So, it means there are no clear information about this kind of sanctions so far?

A: Actually, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has said that China will just take corresponding measures based on the principle of reciprocity. 

4. Q: Do you mind to share the current COVID-19 situation in China, as we know that China will celebrate Chinese New Year in the coming days and many people will travel to meet the family? 

A: According to my information, China's COVID-19 situation is under control. As I have just said, China has always maintained close communication with international community to share the information and data on the epidemic in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with law. And in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, traffic jam has restarted already. So we think everything is coming back to normal step by step.