China tests part of global pressure campaign

International health authorities are trying to pressure China to share more real-time COVID-19 data with the rest of the world.

John KehoeEconomics editor

Jan 3, 2023 – 11.24am

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The Albanese government’s mandatory COVID-19 testing for travellers from China is part of a co-ordinated international campaign to pressure China to share more real-time pandemic data with the rest of the world.

The political decision to shun advice from the chief medical officer and impose COVID-19 testing requirements on entrants from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau was influenced by collaboration with foreign allies and partners to prod Beijing to be more transparent about the spread of the virus and potential new variants.

John Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.