Japan has issued a safety advisory to its citizens in China, urging them to stay alert and avoid crowded areas as diplomatic tensions escalate following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan.
The advisory, posted on the Japanese embassy’s website on Monday, warned citizens to steer clear of large gatherings and locations commonly associated with Japanese nationals. Government spokesman Minoru Kihara said the warning was based on a broad assessment of China’s current political and security climate.
The diplomatic storm began after Takaichi suggested that Japan might intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked — a statement that drew a sharp backlash from Beijing. China, which insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to reclaim it, demanded a retraction and summoned the Japanese ambassador.
The row intensified when China’s consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, posted — and later deleted — a threatening message on social media, prompting Tokyo to summon the Chinese ambassador in protest.
In an effort to ease tensions, Masaaki Kanai, Japan’s chief diplomat for Asia–Pacific affairs, arrived in Beijing on Monday for talks and was seen at China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.
The diplomatic friction has already shaken financial markets. Tokyo stocks tumbled three percent on Tuesday, while Japan’s tourism and retail sectors suffered a sharp decline after China advised its citizens against travelling to the country. China remains Japan’s largest source of tourists, with nearly 7.5 million visitors recorded in the first nine months of 2025.
Prime Minister Takaichi, known for her tough stance on China, reiterated earlier this month that a Taiwan crisis involving military action could constitute a direct threat to Japan’s survival — one of the rare conditions under which Japan permits military involvement.
As both nations navigate a sensitive moment, Japan has urged its citizens in China to remain cautious, respect local customs, and disengage immediately from any situation that feels unsafe.
Comments