Overview
- China’s foreign ministry and its embassy/consulates urged citizens to avoid trips to Japan, citing significant safety risks.
- Major Chinese airlines announced free itinerary changes or full refunds for Japan flights through December 31, according to carrier notices.
- Beijing summoned Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi as Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong demanded a retraction and warned that consequences would fall on Japan.
- Tokyo protested “extremely inappropriate” rhetoric after the Chinese consul in Osaka posted then deleted a threat to “cut off that filthy head,” and Japanese officials said their Taiwan stance remains unchanged.
- Takaichi’s remarks referenced Japan’s 2015 collective self‑defence framework, and her government is moving to lift defense spending toward roughly 2% of GDP.