The Chinese government has advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan “for the foreseeable future.” The recommendation comes amid a diplomatic crisis between Asia’s two largest economies.
At the center of the tension is Taiwan, an autonomous island that China considers part of its territory. On November 7, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would not only trigger a military response, but could also pose an “existential threat” to Japan.
China rejected the statement and asked the prime minister to retract his remarks. The next day, both countries summoned their ambassadors for explanations, a move interpreted in diplomatic circles as a sign of dissatisfaction with the victim country.
In a social media post this Friday (November 14), the Chinese Embassy in Japan warned Chinese nationals against traveling to the neighboring country.
“Recently, Japanese leaders have made overtly provocative statements regarding Taiwan, seriously damaging the environment for people-to-people exchanges. This situation has posed a serious risk to the personal safety and lives of Chinese nationals in Japan,” the embassy said in a WeChat post.
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China, led by President Xi Jinping, maintains that Taiwan, which Japan occupied from 1895 to 1945, is part of Chinese territory and will not rule out the use of force to control it. Taiwan is only 100km from the Japanese archipelago.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese embassy and consulate general in Japan solemnly warns Chinese nationals to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future,” the Chinese embassy publication added.
what’s happening?
- Last week, the newly elected prime minister was asked about threats to the country’s security. He said that if China’s naval blockade of Taiwan was accompanied by military action, it could pose a threat to Japan’s survival, and Japan would need to use force to protect itself.
- Takaichi’s remarks received harsh criticism from China. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Hayashi said at a press conference that Japan must immediately correct and retract this statement.
- He further stated that Japan should “immediately cease interfering in China’s internal affairs and cease provocative and violating actions and statements.”
convening ambassadors
Japan has summoned Wu Jianhao, its ambassador to China, to explain a publication in which Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, suggested “cutting off the head” of the Japanese prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi to Japan and made a “stern request and severe protest” in response to the prime minister’s remarks.
According to Japanese media, Chinese Consul General Xue Jian posted on social media that Sanae should have her head cut off in response to her comments about Taiwan.
“The only thing we can do is cut off its dirty head,” Jiang said. After the announcement, the Japanese government asked the Chinese ambassador for an explanation. Seol Jin was also summoned this Friday.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, “Vice Minister Funakoshi also once again strongly appealed to Ambassador Wu for the Chinese side to take appropriate measures.”
This Thursday (November 13), the Chinese government demanded that the Japanese prime minister immediately retract his statements regarding Taiwan.
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