China urges citizens to avoid travel to Japan amid rising safety concerns

China urges citizens to avoid travel to Japan amid rising safety concerns
Reuters

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a formal advisory urging Chinese tourists to refrain from travelling to Japan in the near future, citing growing safety risks and recent political tensions.

The notice advises those currently in Japan to closely monitor local security conditions, remain vigilant, and strengthen personal safety measures. In case of emergencies, travellers are encouraged to contact local authorities and seek assistance from the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan.

This advisory follows a similar warning issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, highlighting a noticeable decline in public safety in Japan this year, with frequent incidents affecting Chinese citizens.

According to the statement, recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding the Taiwan question have aggravated bilateral tensions, negatively impacting people-to-people exchanges and posing risks to the personal safety of Chinese travelers.

Airlines Respond with Flexible Travel Options

In response to the advisory, six Chinese airlines — Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines — announced that tickets for travel to Japan before 31 December, meeting certain conditions, can be refunded or changed free of charge.

Travellers are urged to stay informed of local developments and make arrangements accordingly, as the situation remains fluid and safety precautions remain a priority.

Japanese diplomat heads to China

A senior Japanese diplomat will head to China on Monday, Japanese media reported, as Tokyo tries to calm the escalating diplomatic spat over Taiwan that is straining relations between the East Asian neighbours.

The row erupted after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan's survival and potentially trigger a military response, something officials had long avoided airing in public for fear of provoking Beijing, which claims the democratically-governed island.

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