China warns against Japan travel citing ‘significant’ surge in assaults

As bilateral relations between Beijing and Tokyo continue to spiral, China’s embassy in Japan has advised citizens to put travel plans on hold “in the near term”, citing a recent spike in unprovoked assaults and discrimination.

In a security warning issued on WeChat, the embassy reported a “significant” surge in requests for help since July. “Recently, several Chinese citizens in Japan have reported that they were verbally abused, assaulted and injured for no reason,” it said.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States and Japan, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Beijing has reacted strongly, lodging protests repeatedly against what it has called Takaichi’s “extremely erroneous and extremely dangerous” remarks. Takaichi, meanwhile, has not backed down and has refused to retract her remarks.

Beijing has also advised Chinese citizens not to travel or study in Japan, halted seafood imports from the country, and cancelled intergovernmental exchanges and cultural events.