Overview
- Japan’s Asia–Oceania bureau chief Masaki Kanai met China’s Asia director Liu Jinsong in Beijing on Nov. 18, but talks ended without progress after China again demanded a retraction of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency comments.
- Tokyo said the Diet answer—stating a Taiwan conflict involving force could qualify as a survival‑threatening situation allowing collective self‑defense—did not alter Japan’s existing policy and would not be withdrawn.
- Chinese authorities and media urged restraint on travel to Japan, and Chinese outlets reported roughly 500,000 cancellations of Japan‑bound air bookings, a figure not independently confirmed by Japan.
- The Japanese Embassy in China issued a Nov. 17 safety advisory to nationals to avoid large gatherings and locations seen as frequented by Japanese people, and the education ministry moved to notify students and schools about precautions.
- Japanese officials and politicians cautioned that the chill could linger for tourism and trade, with calls to reaffirm the 2018 maritime and air liaison mechanism to reduce risks of accidental incidents.