Chinese Authorities Raise the Alarm
Warning bells started ringing on Friday, November 14, when China’s embassy in Japan took to social media, declaring,
“Recently, Japanese leaders have made openly provocative statements regarding Taiwan, severely undermining the atmosphere of exchanges between our peoples.”
The embassy further stated,
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan, solemnly remind Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future,”
citing “significant risks” to their safety. The message made it clear: don’t book a flight to the Land of the Rising Sun just yet.
Airlines React Swiftly
By Saturday, China’s leading airlines had all joined in, offering their customers full refunds for trips to Japan. Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines each issued separate announcements, publicizing the move. If you’re holding a flight ticket between November 15 and December 31, you have the option to change your plans for free or get your money back—no questions asked. Not quite the trip to Shibuya most were hoping for, but at least your wallet won’t take a hit.
Taiwan at the Center of Tensions
The simmering dispute escalated after Sanae Takaichi, newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister, told parliament on November 7 that a Taiwanese emergency involving “the deployment of warships and use of force” could “constitute a threat to Japan’s survival.” In her words,
“We must consider the worst-case scenario.”
Her statement has widely been interpreted as a sign that an attack on Taiwan could prompt Tokyo to provide military support.
According to its own rules, Japan can only intervene militarily under certain conditions—most notably, if its existence is threatened. For reference, Taiwan, over which Beijing claims sovereignty and has threatened to seize by force, lies roughly 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) from a Japanese island. Once under Japanese control (from 1895 to 1945), Taiwan was handed back to the Chinese government after World War II.
Diplomatic Fallout and Exchanges
Beijing has called Sanae Takaichi’s statements “extremely serious,” and announced on Friday it had summoned the Japanese ambassador. Japanese authorities said they had done the same with China’s ambassador, after deeming a threat from the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, “extremely inappropriate.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter)—since deleted—the Chinese diplomat threatened to “cut off that filthy head without the slightest hesitation,” while referencing a news article quoting Ms. Takaichi’s remarks. In response, Tokyo reaffirmed on Friday that its stance on Taiwan remains “unchanged” and advocated for “peace and stability.”
After China’s warning to its nationals on Saturday, the Japanese government’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, expressed regret over a recommendation
“at odds with efforts to promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between Tokyo and Beijing,”
according to the Jiji Press agency. Diplomatic tit-for-tat, as old as time—and as full of awkward exchanges as any family dinner gone wrong.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
