BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) – China warned its citizens on Monday not to travel to Japan during the Lunar New Year, the country’s longest public holiday, as Beijing’s anger over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments in early November about democratically governing Taiwan showed no sign of abating.
A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Chinese citizens “face serious security threats in Japan,” citing a “surge in crimes against Chinese citizens” and the earthquake.
Beijing issued a similar warning after comments made by Gao Yi in November last year suggested that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
The comments angered Beijing, which responded with export restrictions, flight cancellations and vitriolic comments in state media. Japan’s Ministry of National Defense warned Tokyo that it would suffer a “disastrous” military defeat if it used force to intervene in the Taiwan issue.
On Monday, major Chinese airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines extended their free change and cancellation policies for Japan-related flights until October 24. The airlines first announced the policy in November following Gao’s comments and extended it through March last month.
Japan’s Tourism Minister said last week that the number of Chinese tourists to Japan plummeted by 45% in December, but the overall number of tourists to Japan hit a record high.
While Takaichi did not retract her November remarks, she tempered them by reiterating Japan’s stance on China’s “one-China policy.” She also said that China’s characterization of her remarks was inconsistent with the facts.
At a press conference announcing snap elections on January 19, Gao Yi observed: “China has conducted military exercises around Taiwan and is increasingly using economic coercion by controlling key supply chain materials.” She added: “The international security environment is becoming more severe.”
While warning citizens to avoid travel to Japan, Beijing was optimistic about a “tourist boom” with South Korea, its other East Asian neighbor, as it seeks to strengthen ties with Seoul after a breakdown in ties with Tokyo.
Driven by the visa-free policy, the number of Korean tourists to China and Chinese tourists to Korea continues to increase.
“This two-way tourism boom is a microcosm of the growing economic exchanges and cooperation between China and South Korea,” the state-run tabloid Global Times said in an editorial published on Sunday.
(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Hugh Lawson)