Overview
- Japan’s Asia and Oceania bureau chief Masaki Kanai met China’s Asia chief Liu Jinsong in Beijing on Nov. 18, but the two sides failed to narrow differences over the prime minister’s Taiwan-related Diet remarks.
- Liu issued what China called a stern representation seeking a withdrawal of the comments, while Kanai said the remarks did not alter Japan’s policy and would not be retracted, according to official readouts.
- Chinese media reported roughly 500,000 cancellations of Japan-bound flights after Beijing urged residents to reconsider travel, and a planned bilateral experts’ meeting was postponed by Genron NPO.
- The Japanese Embassy in China advised Japanese nationals to prioritize personal safety as public attention to the dispute increased.
- Market moves accompanied the rift, with long-term yields rising and the Nikkei falling, and a video clip appearing to show Kanai bowing after the talks spread widely on Chinese social media.