CaliToday (15/11/2025): Beijing issues an emergency travel warning for its 7.5 million tourists—Japan's largest market after Prime Minister Takaichi's "red line" comments on a Taiwan invasion.
China has escalated a high-stakes diplomatic feud with Japan by deploying its most significant economic weapon: its tourists.
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| Tourists take pictures near Japan's Mount Fuji last month. - Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images |
In a dramatic move on Friday, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry warned its citizens to "refrain from visiting Japan for the time being," a move that threatens to sever a lifeline for Japan's economy. The travel advisory is the most substantive retaliation yet in a rapidly spiraling row over Taiwan, triggered by comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The advisory follows a week of threats, ambassadorial summons, and vitriolic rhetoric, including a now-deleted post from a senior Chinese diplomat on X (formerly Twitter) stating that Japan's "dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off."
This diplomatic explosion comes less than two weeks after Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of an international summit, where both leaders agreed to pursue "constructive, stable ties." That agreement now appears to be in tatters.
The Economic Hammer Falls
Beijing’s move is a well-worn, and highly effective, part of its geopolitical playbook. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement on Friday claimed Takaichi's "blatantly provocative remarks on Taiwan" have "damaged the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges... creating additional risks" for Chinese citizens.
The economic implications are not symbolic; they are a direct threat.
According to official data cited by Japanese broadcaster NHK, nearly 7.5 million travelers from mainland China visited Japan between January and September of this year alone. This figure makes China, by far, the largest and most crucial source of tourism for the Japanese economy.
By issuing this advisory, Beijing is demonstrating its willingness to wield this economic heft to enforce its political "red lines."
The Comment That Ignited the Crisis
The row was ignited when Prime Minister Takaichi—Japan's first woman prime minister was asked a question in the nation's parliament about a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping shake hands prior to their meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Korea last month. - The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images |
Takaichi stated that such an attack would count as "a situation threatening Japan’s survival," a specific legal term that, if invoked, could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
For Beijing, which views the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as a rogue province to be taken by force if necessary, this comment was an unacceptable breach. It crossed Beijing's "red line" by moving away from the "strategic ambiguity" favored by Washington and past Japanese leaders.
While Takaichi later clarified on Monday that her remarks were "hypothetical," the damage was done.
A Week of Diplomatic and Military Threats
The backlash was immediate and severe, moving through diplomatic, military, and propaganda channels.
Diplomatic Warfare: The feud began with the inflammatory "dirty neck" post from China’s Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian. This led to both nations summoning each other's ambassadors. Tokyo protested Xue's "highly inappropriate remarks," while Beijing's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong slammed Takaichi's comments for "seriously damag[ing] the political foundation" of their relationship.
Japan Holds Firm: On Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi refused to back down, stating there was "no need to retract" Takasichi's comments and stressing their "hypothetical" context.
Military "Head-on Blow": China's Ministry of Defense issued its own blunt warning, stating Japan would "suffer a crushing defeat" if it dared to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait. The People’s Liberation Army Daily followed up, promising a "head-on blow" for any intervention, while a PLA-affiliated social media account warned Japan would "pay a heavy price."
As Tokyo balances its close economic ties with China against its deepening security alliance with the United in a volatile region, Beijing has just made it clear that it is willing to inflict severe economic pain to enforce its will.