A major diplomatic confrontation has erupted between Asia’s two economic giants after China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an unprecedented travel advisory urging Chinese nationals to stay away from Japan, marking Beijing’s most substantial retaliation yet in an escalating dispute over Taiwan.
The crisis was triggered when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Japan’s parliament on November 7 that any Chinese military assault on Taiwan would constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” potentially justifying Tokyo’s armed intervention under its collective self-defense framework.
Beijing views the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to take control of the island, by force if necessary, making Taiwan sovereignty the most sensitive red line in China’s foreign relations.
Japan Lodges Formal Protest
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara responded forcefully on Saturday, lodging a formal diplomatic protest against China’s travel warning and calling on Beijing to implement “appropriate measures” to defuse tensions, according to Kyodo News Service.
Kihara emphasized that multilayered communication between the governments remains essential precisely because of their differences, signaling Tokyo’s desire for diplomatic engagement despite the heated rhetoric.
Threatening Social Media Post Escalates Tensions
The diplomatic spat intensified dramatically after Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, posted a controversial message on social media platform X suggesting that “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off,” an apparent reference to Prime Minister Takaichi. Though the post was subsequently deleted, it prompted Tokyo to summon China’s ambassador and demand Beijing take corrective action.
Takaichi’s ruling party passed a resolution calling for the envoy to be declared persona non grata following the inflammatory remarks.
China’s Military Warning and Economic Pressure
China’s Ministry of Defense separately warned that Japan would “suffer a crushing defeat” if it dared to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong told Japan’s ambassador that “anyone who dares to interfere in China’s reunification cause in any form will surely be dealt a heavy blow”.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s travel advisory, posted on WeChat late Friday, claimed that recent Japanese leadership statements have “severely damaged the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges” and created “significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan.”
Major Airlines Offer Full Refunds
Following Beijing’s travel warning, China’s three largest carriers, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, announced Saturday they would provide full refunds or free itinerary changes for all Japan-bound flights through December 31, 2025.
Nearly 7.5 million travelers from China visited Japan between January and September this year, by far the highest count of any country or region, making the travel restriction a potentially significant economic blow to Japan’s tourism industry.
Taiwan at the Geographic and Strategic Center
Taiwan sits just 110 kilometers from Japan’s nearest island, making developments around the democratically-governed territory of immediate security concern to Tokyo. Japan occupied Taiwan for five decades until 1945, adding historical complexity to current tensions.
Takaichi’s remarks last week classified military force used in any Taiwan conflict as a “survival-threatening situation,” a classification that would provide legal justification for Japan to intervene under security legislation passed in 2015.
Strategic Ambiguity Abandoned
Japanese leaders have historically avoided publicly discussing specific Taiwan defense scenarios, preferring strategic ambiguity similar to the approach maintained by the United States, Japan’s primary security ally. Takaichi’s explicit parliamentary statement represents a departure from this longstanding practice, though she has since indicated she will refrain from referencing specific scenarios in future statements.
The falling-out comes less than two weeks after Takaiki and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met for the first time on the sidelines of an international summit and agreed to pursue constructive, stable ties.
Taiwan Responds
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, stated that Chinese travel restrictions against Japan and military exercises in surrounding waters have drawn international attention to regional security developments. She characterized Beijing’s “politically motivated, multifaceted threats against Japan” as posing “a grave danger to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific”.
Military Exercises Announced
China’s Maritime Safety Administration announced that live-fire exercises would be conducted around the clock from Monday through Tuesday in sections of the central Yellow Sea, with entry to the designated area prohibited, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The diplomatic crisis underscores the fragile nature of China-Japan relations, which are complicated by historical mistrust, territorial disputes, and conflicting strategic interests despite their status as major trading partners.