Beijing: China has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan after a sharp diplomatic flare-up triggered by remarks from Tokyo’s new prime minister suggesting Japan could respond militarily to any Chinese use of force against Taiwan.
The warning marks one of the most serious public escalations between the two Asian powers in years, underscoring how tensions over Taiwan continue to unsettle regional relations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that use of force against the self-ruled island claimed by China could warrant a military response from Tokyo.
On Friday, Beijing said it had summoned Japan’s ambassador, while Tokyo said it had summoned China’s ambassador after an “inappropriate” online post that has since been removed.
Japan, according to AFP, has since clarified that its stance on Taiwan remains unchanged, noting the island lies just 100 km from its nearest territory.
Late Friday, China’s embassy in Japan issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens against visiting the country due to what it called “blatantly provocative remarks” by Japanese leaders.
The WeChat statement said the situation posed “significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan.”
Beijing Cites Safety Concerns
The embassy urged Chinese citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Japan “in the near future”, citing deteriorating public sentiment and heightened political tension.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan—occupied by Japan until 1945—is part of its territory and has repeatedly stated it will not rule out the use of force to assert control.
China and Japan remain major trading partners, but historic mistrust, maritime disputes, and military rivalries frequently strain diplomatic ties.
Takaichi, known for her conservative leanings and tough stance on China, has moderated her tone since becoming prime minister last month.
However, her remarks on Taiwan have reignited tension just weeks into her administration, with both countries exchanging diplomatic protests.
Addressing lawmakers, she argued that an armed Taiwanese emergency involving “battleships and the use of force” could threaten Japan’s survival.
Japan’s Security Laws at Centre of Debate
Her comments referenced Japan’s 2015 security legislation, which allows the country to exercise “collective self-defence” under certain conditions, including when Japan’s survival is at risk.
Despite the backlash, Takaichi has clarified that she does not intend to retract her statement, arguing it aligns with long-standing policy.
But she added she would avoid describing specific military scenarios in future public remarks.
Historically, Japanese prime ministers have avoided directly commenting on Taiwan’s defence, preferring strategic ambiguity to avoid provoking China.
The United States—Japan’s key security ally—has likewise remained intentionally unclear about whether it would deploy military forces to defend Taiwan.
Takaichi’s sudden departure from this cautious approach appears to have unnerved Beijing.
Online Controversy Deepens Diplomatic Fallout
The row worsened after China’s consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, made a social media post referring to “cutting off that dirty neck”—widely interpreted as targeting Takaichi.
Japan protested strongly, prompting the deletion of the post, and Takaichi’s ruling party passed a resolution urging that the diplomat be declared persona non grata.
Beijing has not publicly commented on the post since its removal.
Before taking office, Takaichi—an acolyte of former prime minister Shinzo Abe—was known for her vocal criticism of China’s military expansion in the Asia-Pacific.
She has visited Taiwan previously and met Taipei’s representative at a recent APEC summit.
During that same summit, Takaichi also held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping—highlighting the complexity and fragility of bilateral engagement.
