Hundreds of Thousands of Flights to Japan Cancelled as China-Japan Dispute Escalates
Chinese travellers are estimated to have cancelled hundreds of thousands of tickets to fly to Japan amid reports of suspended visa processing and cultural exchanges as a diplomatic dispute over Japan’s stance on Taiwan continues.
under pressure from business groups, Japan has sent a senior diplomat to Beijing in an attempt to calm tensions after japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said her country could get militarily involved if China attempted to invade Taiwan. Her comments prompted fury from China’s government, which issued warnings against chinese travellers and students going to Japan.
At least seven Chinese airlines, including the three state carriers, said they would offer free cancellations to travellers with flights booked to the country.
One air travel analyst, Hanming Li, said departure data suggested about 500,000 flight tickets to Japan had been cancelled between 15 and 17 November.
The Chinese outlet Jimu News reported that Sichuan Airlines had cancelled all flights between Chengdu and Sapporo from january until late March, and the budget carrier Spring Airlines had cancelled “multiple” Japan flights. Both airlines cited “company planning reasons”.
China is the second largest source of tourists to Japan, and its students form the bulk of Japan’s international student cohort. Shares in Japanese retail and travel companies slumped on Monday in response to the measures.
Li told the Guardian it was the largest mass cancellation of flights he had seen since early in the Covid pandemic.
Japan Warns Citizens in China Amidst Diplomatic Spat Over Taiwan Remarks
Tensions between Japan and China have escalated following controversial remarks by Japanese economic security minister Yasutoshi Nishimura regarding Taiwan, prompting a strong response from Beijing and safety warnings for Japanese citizens living in China.
The Dispute: The disagreement stems from Nishimura’s comments suggesting that an attack on Taiwan could be considered an “existential threat” to Japan, potentially justifying the exercise of Japan’s right to collective self-defense. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/23/japan-china-taiwan-remarks-yasutoshi-nishimura These statements contradict Japan’s postwar constitution, which prohibits the use of force to settle international disputes. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has repeatedly stated its intention to reunify the island with the mainland, by force if necessary.
CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, has given the dispute extensive coverage, fueling nationalist sentiment online. Beijing has demanded Nishimura retract his comments, but the Japanese government maintains its overall policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.
Economic Concerns & Diplomatic Efforts: The escalating tensions have alarmed Japanese business groups. Yoshinobu Tsutsui, chair of Keidanren, Japan’s biggest business lobby, emphasized that “political stability is a prerequisite for economic exchange,” following a meeting with economic security minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/23/japan-china-taiwan-remarks-yasutoshi-nishimura Tokyo responded by dispatching Masaaki Kanai, a top foreign ministry official, to Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterpart, liu Jinsong, in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Security Implications: The possibility of Japanese involvement in a conflict over Taiwan is a critically important concern for China. While the United States is Taiwan’s primary backer, it maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding direct military intervention.https://www.cfr.org/taiwan/us-policy however, the US-Japan security treaty obligates both countries to defend each other if either is attacked within Japanese territory. This means Japanese involvement in a Taiwan conflict could almost certainly draw in the United States.
Safety Warnings for Japanese Nationals: In response to the surge in anti-Japanese sentiment in Chinese media, Japan has advised its citizens living in China to exercise increased caution. The guidance, issued by Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, on Tuesday, includes avoiding crowded areas and being mindful of local customs. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-warns-citizens-china-over-anti-japan-sentiment-2024-01-23/ The Japanese embassy in Beijing has also urged citizens to be aware of their surroundings, avoid traveling alone, and take extra precautions when traveling with children. approximately 100,000 Japanese citizens were residing in China as of 2023, according to Japan’s foreign ministry.
China’s foreign ministry stated it “always and will continue to protect the safety of foreign citizens in China in accordance with the law.”