Overview
- Bureau-level talks in Beijing on November 18 ended without a breakthrough after China pressed for a retraction of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Diet remarks and Japan declined.
- Chinese media reported roughly 500,000 cancellations of Japan-bound airline bookings following travel cautions and calls to avoid visiting Japan.
- The Japanese Embassy in China issued safety guidance to nationals, and Education Minister Yohei Matsumoto said students and schools in China would receive notifications on precautions.
- Business exchanges have begun to be postponed, with organizers and local authorities citing the diplomatic tension as plans are put on hold.
- Tokyo says it will keep diplomatic channels open, opposition leader Yuichiro Tamaki urged leaders to reaffirm the 2018 sea–air contact mechanism, and officials warn the dispute could broaden into economic measures.