Overview
- Senior envoys met in Beijing, where China lodged a strong protest and Liu Jinsong said he was dissatisfied with talks with Japan’s Masaaki Kanai.
- Tokyo says the prime minister’s comments do not change Japan’s policy and issued a safety notice urging Japanese citizens in China to stay vigilant.
- Beijing urged Chinese citizens to avoid Japan, prompting widespread flight refunds, tour cancellations and a selloff in Japanese tourism and retail stocks.
- Japanese media reported that China will suspend imports of Japanese seafood, a move unconfirmed by Beijing as officials suggested Chinese consumers would shun such products.
- Tensions were inflamed by a now-deleted violent post from China’s consul-general in Osaka and by stepped-up Chinese Coast Guard activity near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.