Chinese authorities are recommending that their citizens avoid travel to Japan, amid tensions between the two countries following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding the possibility of military intervention to defend Taiwan.
“Recently, Japanese leaders openly made provocative statements regarding Taiwan, which seriously damaged the climate of people-to-people exchanges”said the Chinese Embassy in Japan on Friday evening, November 14, on social networks.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Japan solemnly remind Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future”he added, raising spirits “significant risk” for their safety.
China’s major airlines announced on Saturday that they would offer their customers full reimbursement for their flights to Japan. Air China, China Southern and China Eastern all issued separate statements to publicize the move, which allows ticket holders between November 15 and December 31 to change their travel plans for free or receive a refund.
On November 7, Japan’s new head of government declared in Parliament that an emergency situation in Taiwan was involved “the deployment of warships and use of force could pose a threat to Japan’s survival”. “We have to consider the worst case scenario”he added. His comments were widely interpreted as a sign that an attack on Taiwan would require military support from Tokyo.
“Cut off that dirty head”
Under its own rules, Japan can only intervene militarily under certain conditions, especially if there is a threat to its existence. However, Taiwan, over which Beijing claims sovereignty and threatens to take by force, is located just a hundred kilometers from the Japanese island. Japan took control of Taiwan in 1895, before returning it to Chinese rule in 1945.
Beijing, which assessed Sanae Takaichi’s statement “very serious”announced on Friday that it had summoned the Japanese ambassador. Japanese authorities said they did the same with the Chinese ambassador, following threats “very inappropriate” from the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian.
In a message broadcast on X, since deleted, the Chinese diplomat threatened to do so “Cut off that filthy head without the slightest hesitation”citing articles related to M’s wordsI Takaichi. On Friday, Tokyo reiterated that its position on Taiwan remains in place “do not change” and recommended “peace and stability”.
On Saturday, after China’s warning to its citizens, the Japanese government secretary general, Minoru Kihara, regretted the recommendation. “as opposed to enhancing strategic and mutually beneficial relationships” between Tokyo and Beijing, according to the Jiji Press news agency.
