China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals (www.bbc.com)
from schizoidman@lemmy.zip to world@lemmy.world on 15 Feb 2026 13:43
https://lemmy.zip/post/59149776

British and Canadian nationals will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from 17 February.

#world

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ramble81@lemmy.zip on 15 Feb 2026 18:49 next collapse

The same China that’s been pissed with the UK for giving Hong Kong citizens residency and Canada for calling them out on violations?

I know Canada just signed that trade agreement, but I’d still be leery.

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de on 15 Feb 2026 19:16 collapse

Its just to generate good press

Arghblarg@lemmy.ca on 15 Feb 2026 22:14 collapse

Yeah. No way in hell I’d willingly set foot in China, why risk being kidnapped on fake charges and held as a political pawn for some future trade to hand them back one of their ~spies~business execs?

bonsai@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 15 Feb 2026 23:17 next collapse

Does China do that? Thought that was primarily a Russia thing

fortnitefinn@sh.itjust.works on 15 Feb 2026 23:30 next collapse

Can’t have a thread about China without FUD.

Arghblarg@lemmy.ca on 16 Feb 2026 16:18 collapse

Whoohoo, look at all those downvotes! Somebody doesn’t like the reminders about the two Mikes, huh?

NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world on 15 Feb 2026 22:22 next collapse

Ah yes, so i can be imprisoned and used as a bargaining chip, no thanks.

partofthevoice@lemmy.zip on 16 Feb 2026 01:02 collapse

More likely, so you can demonstrate for China to others that China will not bother so much. Probably because they have a bigger plan in mind, which involves earning trust. I think they want to be what the US was, but on steroids.

fortnitefinn@sh.itjust.works on 15 Feb 2026 23:29 next collapse

That’s pretty cool.

I’m all for reducing friction between nations.

ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip on 15 Feb 2026 23:47 next collapse

Pretty wild. Let’s hope it lasts. I really hope more people travel to mainland to see what it is actually like, both the good and bad. As someone who lived there for several years, I get so tired of both the extreme fear and the hyperbolic glazing. No, you won’t get kidnapped; yes, people will stare at you if you aren’t Chinese, but most will be very friendly; no, everything isn’t technologically advanced and BYD isn’t the best shit ever; yes, dumplings are amazing, and the pizza is the worst; and yes, that is pollution not fog.

Stamau123@lemmy.world on 16 Feb 2026 04:29 collapse

We don’t take kindly to nuance round these parts

ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip on 16 Feb 2026 16:15 collapse

What’s crazy is that China seems to be a super hot button no nuance issue where hardly anyone seems in the middle. It’s tiring always hearing that China is the absolute worst or that they are the promised land. When really they aren’t either.

Fleur_@aussie.zone on 16 Feb 2026 03:56 collapse

Sick, I’d love to go one day