Japan is seeking to cool rising tensions with China after a diplomatic dispute escalated over remarks linking a potential conflict in Taiwan to Japan’s security. The situation intensified when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could prompt a military response—an unusually direct comment that Beijing strongly criticized.
To ease the situation, Japan is sending senior foreign affairs official Masaaki Kanai to Beijing to clarify that the remarks do not represent a shift in Japan’s security policy. Tokyo is urging China to avoid actions that further strain bilateral ties, stressing the importance of maintaining communication and stability in the relationship.
China, however, issued a travel warning advising its citizens to reconsider visiting Japan, prompting Tokyo to request its withdrawal. Political rhetoric has become increasingly heated on both sides, with China issuing forceful statements and Japan protesting what it deemed inappropriate comments from Chinese officials.
Tensions have also carried over into regional security concerns, including Chinese coast guard vessels entering waters near disputed islands. Japan responded by driving the vessels away as both nations continue to assert their territorial claims.
The friction comes at a delicate time, with the leaders of both countries expected to attend the upcoming G20 summit. Regional observers warn that if the dispute continues, Japan could experience a sharp decline in Chinese tourism similar to past diplomatic rifts, posing a potential economic setback.