Overview
- Japan warned its citizens in China to avoid crowds and stay vigilant and prepared safety notices for students, while China said foreigners’ safety would be protected.
- China urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and major airlines offered refunds, triggering mass cancellations, stock declines in tourism and retail, and warnings of potential GDP drag.
- Senior diplomats Masaaki Kanai and Liu Jinsong met in Beijing, with Tokyo reiterating no change to its formal Taiwan stance and protesting a threatening post by China’s Osaka consul general.
- Maritime and air frictions persisted as Chinese coast guard vessels operated near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and Japan reported scrambling a fighter over a suspected Chinese drone near Yonaguni.
- Beijing continued to demand a retraction and signaled possible countermeasures, while cultural exchanges were hit by postponed Japanese film releases and no leader-level meeting was slated at the G20.