Japan asks China to take steps after it discouraged visits to Japan, Kyodo reports

Japan asks China to take steps after it discouraged visits to Japan, Kyodo reports
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan 21 October, 2025
Reuters

Japan urged China on Saturday to take "appropriate measures" after Beijing issued a warning to its citizens against travelling to Japan, amid an ongoing dispute over Taiwan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that Japan had "conveyed the message to China and strongly requested appropriate actions," according to a report from Kyodo news agency. The report did not provide further details on the measures Japan had called for.

China's warning came on Friday following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested last week that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially prompting a military response from Tokyo.

Kihara noted that while Japan and China have differing views on the issue, it is crucial to maintain communication between the two countries, as reported by Kyodo.

China claims Taiwan, which is democratically governed, and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island, located just 110 km (70 miles) from Japan. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Japanese officials have typically refrained from publicly discussing Taiwan in such contexts, maintaining a policy of "strategic ambiguity," which is also supported by Japan’s key security partner, the United States.

Three Chinese airlines announced on Saturday that tickets to Japan could be refunded or changed free of charge, according to China News Service.

Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwan's Presidential Office, stated that China’s travel restrictions on Japan, along with live-fire drills in nearby areas, have heightened attention to regional developments. She described Beijing’s "politically motivated, multifaceted threats against Japan" as a serious risk to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The China Maritime Safety Administration announced that live-fire exercises would be held continuously in parts of the central Yellow Sea from Monday to Tuesday, with entry to the area prohibited. The exact location was not specified by official media CCTV.

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