Tensions are escalating between Japan and China. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson / Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi made incorrect remarks regarding Taiwan, deeply hurting the feelings of the Chinese people and significantly worsening the atmosphere of people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry made the remarks during a news conference on November 17, and added that Chinese Premier Li Qiang has no plans to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae at the G20 Summit to be held this week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson / I can confirm that Premier Li Qiang has no plans to meet with the Japanese leader.

The dispute was triggered by remarks from Prime Minister Takaichi.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae / If China uses warships and involves the use of force, I believe this could absolutely constitute a ‘crisis situation threatening survival’.

She indicated that the Self-Defense Forces might resort to the use of force if a Taiwan crisis occurred.

On November 16, China's Ministry of Education urged students to carefully consider studying in Japan.

On November 17, we visited a Japanese language school in Tokyo. More than half of the  1,200 students are Chinese.

One student told us that their friends in China were concerned about them. 

Student from China / My friends send me news from China.

They showed us  Chinese news articles advising people to avoid traveling to Japan.

Student from China / My friends in China tell me because they are worried. But I’m here in Japan and I don’t think about it too much. 

The Chinese government is urging its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. This could impact language schools in Japan.

Inoue Ikuru, TCJ Japanese Language School head / Today is the visa application deadline for students hoping to come to Japan next April. We hope the government will take measures to minimize the impact on those who have decided to study in Japan.

Approximately 31.65 million foreigners visited Japan by September 2025. China and Hong Kong, which also has issued a similar travel advisory, account for about 30% of the total visitors. 

We spoke with a man working for a Chinese travel agency on November 17.

NTV Reporter / How many cancellations have you had?

Chinese travel agency employee /  Only two or three so far. It’s still relatively small.

NTV Reporter / Has it significantly impacted your work yet?

Chinese travel agency employee / No. We explain that the private sector operations remain unchanged in Japan and that people will understand once they arrive in Japan.
However, Japan’s tourism-related stocks fell sharply on November 17 following the Chinese government's advisory urging its citizens to avoid travel to Japan.

Retail stocks, particularly department stores that are heavily reliant on inbound demand, were sold off along with airlines following concerns that tourist arrivals from China might decline.

Have the tourists heard about the policies?

NTV Reporter / The Chinese government announces Japan is unsafe.

Tourists from Hong Kong / Unsafe? That's not true at all. 

Tourists from Hong Kong / What I'm worried about is bears.

Chinese worker in tourism industry / Several customers have asked me in the last few days. I tell them that it’s okay and Japan is safe.

The Director-General of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Kanai Masaaki, was dispatched to China on November 17. He is expected to meet with a director-general from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain that Takaichi’s comment does not indicate a change in Japan’s longstanding position.  

The impact is spreading within China. The release of two Japanese films, including an anime movie ,were postponed.

The Japanese government hopes to utilize opportunities this week, including the G20 Summit where Prime Minister Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are expected to attend, to explain Japan's position and ease tensions.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that there are no plans for the two leaders to meet at the Summit. 

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru emphasized on November 18 that Japan is open for dialogue.