Japan advises citizens in China to avoid crowds and be cautious amid diplomatic tensions over PM Takaichi’s Taiwan military intervention comments.
TOKYO: Japan has warned its citizens in China to exercise caution and avoid large gatherings amid escalating diplomatic tensions over Taiwan.
The Japanese embassy issued the security advisory following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about potential military intervention if Taiwan faces attack.
“Pay attention to your surroundings and avoid as much as possible squares where large crowds gather,” the embassy stated on its website.
Government spokesman Minoru Kihara confirmed the advice was based on “a comprehensive assessment of the political situation” in China.
The diplomatic row intensified after Takaichi suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily during any Taiwan attack during parliamentary remarks on November 7.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, reacted angrily to the comments and summoned Japan’s ambassador last Friday.
Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian escalated tensions by threatening to “cut off that dirty neck” in a since-deleted social media post apparently referencing Takaichi.
Tokyo responded by summoning China’s ambassador over the inflammatory statement.
Japanese foreign ministry official Masaaki Kanai visited Beijing this week seeking to defuse the situation through talks with Chinese counterparts.
The embassy advisory also urged Japanese citizens to “respect local customs and be careful about your words and attitudes when interacting with local people”.
Tokyo stocks fell 3% on Tuesday as the diplomatic dispute weighed on market sentiment.
Chinese tourism warnings against visiting Japan previously caused Japanese tourism and retail shares to decline significantly.
China represents Japan’s largest tourism market, with nearly 7.5 million Chinese visitors during the first nine months of 2025.
Takaichi had been a vocal critic of China’s military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region before taking office last month. – AFP
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