The old policy was visa-free travel for 10 days (they called it a transit visa, but you didn't need to be transiting and didn't need to do paperwork in advance or pay).

Now it's 30 days.

Great, but it really doesn't seem like as big a change as politicians are pretending it is.

Its pretty great imho, you can just fly to China and walk through the border. Not hotel reservations needed, no return flight needed, no bank statements, oh yeah and its free. On the other hand China is continuing to restrict work-residence permits, raising the required income and experience requirements.

The new policy is not an updated version of China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy which is limited to a handful of ports.

https://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-visa-free-travel-p...

Do you mean specifically because it's China? Otherwise, no, have you not travelled anywhere that doesn't need a visa? Like (assuming from the UK) Canada, the USA, almost(?) anywhere in Europe? It's fine, there's very little 'review your case' to happen.

I have traveled to Japan without needing a visa and it was very convenient.

All you had to do was filling a form with the personal details at the arrival airport (and of course, a valid passport).