Overview
- Japan’s Asia-Pacific bureau chief Masahiro Kanai met China’s Asia director Liu Jinsong in Beijing on Nov. 18, but the talks ended with both sides repeating their positions.
- China lodged a formal protest and demanded a retraction, while Tokyo said the Diet answers did not alter Japan’s longstanding stance and would not be withdrawn.
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Kihara reaffirmed that the government will not retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan-related remarks.
- Chinese media reported roughly 500,000 cancellations of Japan-bound bookings after calls to avoid visiting, Genron NPO postponed a planned bilateral forum, and the Japanese embassy in China urged residents to prioritize safety.
- In a separate development, the U.S. FAA said flight-reduction measures tied to a partial government shutdown were fully lifted, normalizing major airport operations.