Overview
- Japan’s Asia-Pacific envoy Masaaki Kanai met Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong in Beijing, where China issued a strong protest over Takaichi’s comments, according to spokesperson Mao Ning.
- After Tokyo urged vigilance for its citizens in China, Beijing said it would protect foreigners’ safety in accordance with the law, even as state media continued harsh criticism of Takaichi.
- Chinese airlines logged about 491,000 Japan-bound ticket cancellations since the advisory, with carriers offering full refunds through year-end and distributors delaying at least two Japanese film releases.
- Tourism-exposed Japanese stocks slid, and Nomura estimated a potential 1.79 trillion yen hit to GDP (about 0.29%) if Chinese arrivals fall sharply, echoing past downturns during bilateral disputes.
- Tokyo has not retracted Takaichi’s remarks, China signaled no plans for a leader-level meeting at the G20, and recent Chinese coast guard activity near the Senkaku/Diaoyu area underscored persistent tensions.