In response to the statement made by Japanese Prime Minister Takayama Sanae regarding Taiwan, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice urging citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. However, at the Shanghai Pudong Airport, Chinese passengers heading to Japan were still queuing up in long lines, with many stating that “politics has nothing to do with them.”
On the night of November 14th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Japan simultaneously issued notices, reminding Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future. They claimed that recent provocative comments regarding Taiwan by Japanese leaders posed significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan.
In response, major state-owned Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines promptly announced that passengers holding tickets for flights between November 15th and December 31st could make one free change to their tickets and waived the refund handling fee.
Meanwhile, Chinese internet celebrities are also calling on people not to travel to Japan for the time being. Despite these warnings issued by the Chinese government, it seems that they have not had the desired effect.
On the morning of November 15th, a reporter from “Asahi Shimbun” went to the Shanghai Pudong Airport and found long queues at the check-in counter for flights to Osaka, Japan. Many passengers with Chinese passports and luggage were there, indicating that most were tourists heading to Japan for sightseeing.
Describing the scene, the report mentioned that there was a mix of family laughter and young couples chatting as they waited in line.
Many people acknowledged the ministry’s warning but quickly dismissed it by saying, “I’m not interested in politics” or “It doesn’t concern me” when approached for comments.
A young woman in her twenties mentioned that she was aware of the ministry’s advice to avoid traveling to Japan but stated that politics was not her concern. She recounted her positive experiences traveling to various European countries without facing discrimination and felt safe in Japan. Even though she could cancel her flight for free now, she insisted she would not change her plans.
A couple in their thirties with children also disclosed that they were aware of the ministry’s advisory but had no intentions of altering their travel itinerary. Regarding political risks, they simply stated, “We are not interested in politics.”
The report further noted that some passengers appeared slightly embarrassed about flying to Japan given the current atmosphere but chose to proceed with their travel plans.
On social media platforms, many users mocked the Chinese government, saying, “Are they starting to incite people to hate Japan again?” and “Ironically, Japan is the most visited country by the Chinese, and more and more Chinese immigrants are moving to Japan.” Some netizens expressed relief at the decreased presence of “pink patriots” from China in Japan, believing it would lead to a cleaner environment.
There were also comments criticizing Chinese citizens in Japan for committing crimes and causing the safety situation to deteriorate. These sentiments reflected a mix of opinions regarding the travel advisory issued by the Chinese authorities.
Following recent tensions between China and Japan escalated by the comments of new Japanese Prime Minister Takayama Sanae regarding Taiwan, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, made controversial statements, leading to the recall of ambassadors between the two countries. In response, China urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and announced live-fire exercises in the central part of the Yellow Sea from November 17th to 19th, prohibiting ships from entering that area. Japan, in turn, called on China to handle the situation appropriately.
Statistics show that Japan is the second most popular destination for Chinese tourists in 2025, after Vietnam. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan received a total of 31.65 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of the year, with Chinese tourists accounting for the largest portion at approximately 23.7%, totaling 7.4872 million visitors.