China Travel Agencies Halt Japan Tours as Beijing Tightens Warnings Over Taiwan Dispute

Overview

• Several major Chinese travel agencies stopped selling Japan-bound trips from Sunday, industry sources said, affecting a market where Chinese visitors are the largest cohort by country this year.
• China’s Education Ministry told students in or heading to Japan to closely track local security following a government advisory urging citizens to avoid travel.
• Air China, China Southern and China Eastern are allowing free changes or cancellations for Japan flights, with some refunds available through the end of the year.
• Four armed China Coast Guard vessels entered waters administered by Japan on Sunday for what Beijing called a lawful rights enforcement patrol before departing.
• Tokyo called for restraint from China and said the prime minister’s Taiwan-related comments are consistent with Japan’s domestic and international legal frameworks.