Overview
- China urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, citing a deteriorated environment for people-to-people exchanges and risks to Chinese citizens’ safety.
- Air China, China Southern and China Eastern announced free refunds or changes for Japan routes through December 31.
- Both sides summoned each other’s ambassadors, as Beijing demanded a retraction of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks and Tokyo protested a Chinese consul’s now-deleted threatening post.
- China’s defense ministry warned Japan would suffer a “crushing defeat” if it intervened over Taiwan, reinforcing foreign ministry threats of a heavy blow and consequences.
- China announced live-fire exercises in the central Yellow Sea, while Takaichi has not retracted her statement and Japan reiterates a preference for resolving Taiwan issues peacefully.