China has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan amid tensions between the two countries over Taiwan, after Tokyo did not rule out the possibility of Japanese military intervention to defend the island claimed by Beijing if it is attacked, AFP reported, BTA reports.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on November 7 that an armed attack on Taiwan could justify sending Japanese troops to defend the island under a provision in Japan's 2015 law on “legitimate collective defense“.
If a crisis breaks out around Taiwan in which “military force is used“ against the island, it could pose a threat to the survival of Japan“, the ultra-conservative prime minister said, without mentioning China directly. “We need to consider the worst-case scenario.“
Last night, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo called the statement “an open provocation on the Taiwan issue, seriously damaging the people-to-people relations“ of China and Japan.“
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy and consulate in Japan officially remind Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future“, added the statement posted on social media, citing “the significant risk“ to their safety.“
As a result, Chinese airlines – – – –Air China“, – –China Southern“ and –China Eastern Airlines “ – today announced that it will offer its customers full refunds for flights to Japan, as well as free changes to reservations until December 31.
According to its own laws, Japan can only take military action in certain circumstances when there is an existential threat to the country.
Taiwan, over which Beijing claims full sovereignty, is located just about 100 km from Japan, and China has threatened to use force to bring it under control.
The Taiwan issue is one of the most sensitive in relations between Japan and China – two important economic partners. In 1895, the island became a Japanese possession after Tokyo took it from the Chinese Empire, a situation that remained until 1945, when the then Chinese government returned it.
Following statements by Sanae Takaichi, which were considered as “extremely serious“, Beijing summoned the Japanese ambassador yesterday.
Calling Takaichi's remarks “extremely wrong and dangerous”, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong warned Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi that “anyone who dares to interfere in the cause of China's reunification in any way will surely suffer a heavy blow”, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.
Japan also summoned the Chinese ambassador after threats by China's Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jiang, were deemed “extremely inappropriate”. In a message that was later deleted, he threatened to “cut off this dirty head without hesitation”, citing an article about Takaichi's remarks.
The ministry Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador to the country, Wu Jiangao, and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi handed him a protest in connection with the consul's statement in Osaka and demanded that Beijing take measures against such statements.
Yesterday, Tokyo confirmed that its position on Taiwan remains "unchanged" and called for "peace and stability."
Following China's warning to its citizens, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara today expressed regret over the recommendation, which "impedes the development of strategic and mutually beneficial relations" between Tokyo and Beijing.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, stressed, quoted by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, that Japan and its current leader should not make irresponsible statements on the Taiwan issue. He warned Tokyo to change his behavior and take back his words, because otherwise he will suffer all the consequences that result from this.