The National Immigration Administration said on Wednesday that it has suspended the issuance of port visas to Japanese and South Korean citizens and has excluded them from the nation's 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit policy.

The new rules took effect on Wednesday, the NIA said.

It said the suspension was a response to recent discriminatory entry restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic that were imposed recently by the two nations on Chinese citizens.

The Chinese embassy in Seoul said in a statement on Tuesday that short-term visas for South Koreans to visit China for business, tourism and other personal affairs would be suspended. In addition, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo announced that it had halted the processing and issuance of such visas for Japanese citizens looking to visit China.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that China has been communicating with both countries and has elaborated on the science-based and reasonable refinement of its epidemic control measures as well as the nation's current COVID-19 situation.