Japanese firms operating in China are worried that travel between the countries will not become easier after Japan's decision to impose emergency border controls on travelers from China.

China announced on Monday that it would drop quarantine requirements on January 8 for all people entering the country. This raised expectations among Japanese expatriates for easier business travel between the countries.

But Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said on Tuesday that emergency border controls will be imposed starting on Friday on travelers from China due to the reported surge of new coronavirus cases there.

Kishida said his government would require COVID tests for people arriving from China.

Earlier, the chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, Ikezoe Yoichi, had expressed the hope that business operations would become smoother. He said senior employees with mandates are now able to enter China from Japan without undergoing quarantine periods and conduct repeated face-to-face negotiations.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday responded to Japan's announcement of the new border controls. Wang stressed that countries need to help each other to ensure safe travel and maintain steady global supply chains for the recovery and growth of the world economy. He added that infection measures should be science-based and be taken in proper degrees.