China urges citizens to avoid Japan travel amid Taiwan feud with Tokyo’s premier

Tension erupted after Takaichi, who assumed office in October 2025 as Japan's first female prime minister, told the Japanese parliament on November 7 that the use of force against the self-ruled island could warrant a military response from Tokyo. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, denounced the ultraconservative premier's remarks as a provocation.

Escalating Diplomatic and Travel Warnings

The feud quickly escalated, leading to ambassadors being summoned by both sides:

• China’s Embassy in Japan warned its citizens against travelling to the country in an online post late on Friday, citing that Takaichi's "blatantly provocative remarks" had severely damaged the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges and presented "significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan."

• Tokyo had earlier summoned China’s ambassador after an "inappropriate" and now-removed social media post by a Chinese consul general in Osaka appeared to threaten Takaichi.

Reacting to the travel warning, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Beijing’s call was "inconsistent with the promotion of a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship" and confirmed that the Japanese government has requested the Chinese side to take "appropriate measures."

In a further development, China’s largest airlines—Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern—offered full refunds for flights on Japan routes before the end of the year, allowing free itinerary changes or refunds for flights from Saturday through December 31.

Regional Stability Concerns

Despite the friction, Tokyo has since said its position on Taiwan is unchanged. Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesperson, Karen Kuo, said Beijing’s "politically motivated, multifaceted threats against Japan pose a grave danger to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific," noting that the travel restrictions follow China's recent live-fire drills in surrounding areas.

Japanese leaders have previously avoided publicly mentioning Taiwan in such military terms, maintaining a "strategic ambiguity" favored by Tokyo’s main security ally, the United States.

China insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to seize control. The China Maritime Safety Administration confirmed live-fire exercises would be conducted in parts of the central Yellow Sea around the clock from Monday through Tuesday, with entry to the area prohibited.