According to public records, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was the first country to announce a ban on entry by Chinese citizens in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The DPRK Took the Lead in Introducing Comprehensive Entry Restrictions
According to a list of entry-control measures released by China’s National Immigration Administration on January 28, 2020, the DPRK temporarily prohibited Chinese citizens from entering its territory effective January 27, 2020. The measure explicitly stated that the “entry of Chinese citizens” was temporarily suspended and required all incoming persons, including DPRK nationals, to undergo 30 days of quarantine and observation.
Timeline and Comparison of Measures Adopted by Major Countries
After the DPRK, several other countries announced entry restrictions targeting Chinese citizens or travelers arriving from China. However, the timing and scope of these measures varied considerably.
- United States: Effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2020, foreign nationals who had been in China during the preceding 14 days were barred from entering the United States, with exceptions including immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The U.S. Department of State also raised its travel advisory for China to its highest level at the time.
- Australia: Beginning February 1, 2020, entry was denied to people arriving from mainland China, with exceptions for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members.
- Mongolia: From February 1 to March 2, 2020, Mongolia prohibited Chinese citizens, as well as travelers from third countries who had transited through China, from entering the country.
- Singapore: Beginning at 12:00 noon on January 29, 2020, Singapore suspended entry and transit for Chinese citizens who had visited Hubei Province during the preceding 14 days, as well as holders of passports issued in Hubei.
Important Distinctions
When examining the relevant records, it is important to distinguish between a blanket ban on entry by Chinese citizens and restrictions targeting travelers from particular regions or those with specific travel histories.
For example, countries such as Japan, effective February 1, and Malaysia initially imposed restrictions primarily on travelers holding passports issued in Hubei or who had recently traveled to Hubei, rather than imposing a blanket entry ban on all Chinese citizens.
At a press conference on February 3, 2020, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the United States was “the first country to announce comprehensive restrictive measures against entry by Chinese citizens.” This statement primarily referred to the United States’ adoption of sweeping restrictions covering travelers from the whole of China, rather than restrictions limited to Hubei or other specific areas. The U.S. measures subsequently became the subject of considerable international debate.
Therefore, based on the official entry-control records published by China’s National Immigration Administration, the DPRK was the first country documented as having implemented a temporary suspension of entry by Chinese citizens, with the measure taking effect on January 27, 2020.
The distinction between the DPRK’s earlier blanket restriction on Chinese citizens and the later U.S. restrictions is important. The two measures differed not only in timing but also in their legal scope and the categories of travelers to whom they applied. This distinction helps explain why contemporary statements sometimes described the United States as the first country to impose “comprehensive” restrictions, while Chinese official records identified the DPRK as the first country to suspend entry by Chinese citizens.
