Chinese travelers have reportedly canceled hundreds of thousands of tickets to Japan due to a diplomatic rift stemming from Japan’s comments regarding the situation in Taiwan. The tension escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan could militarily intervene if China were to invade Taiwan, provoking a strong backlash from the Chinese government. In response to the escalating tensions, Japanese officials have reached out diplomatically, sending senior representatives to Beijing to help ease the situation.
Data from air travel analyst Hanming Li indicated that approximately 500,000 flight tickets to Japan were canceled between November 15 and 17. Multiple airlines, including major state carriers, are offering free cancellations to travelers, with Sichuan Airlines halting all flights between Chengdu and Sapporo from January to late March, citing company planning reasons, while budget airline Spring Airlines also canceled several flights to Japan.
China remains the second-largest source of tourists to Japan, and Chinese students represent a significant portion of Japan’s international student body. Consequently, shares in Japanese retail and travel firms experienced a downturn following these developments.
Li noted that while this wave of cancellations marks the largest since early COVID-19 disruptions, it might not substantially impact the broader Chinese domestic travel market, given the relatively small size of the Sino-Japan market.
The cancellations come alongside other punitive measures after what had primarily been a verbal exchange between the two nations. Reports indicate that some Chinese travel agencies have ceased processing individual visa applications for travelers heading to Japan, and various cultural events between the two countries have been canceled.
On top of this, the anticipated release of an annual Japan-China survey was scrapped at China’s request, with a polling partner stating the results would not reflect the current relationship between the two nations and thus hold no practical relevance. Previous surveys showed that over 50% of respondents from both countries viewed each other as vital economic partners.
Furthermore, the film industry has felt the impact, with the screening of two Japanese films in China indefinitely postponed. The Japanese animated film “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” saw a decline in box office sales, attributed to Chinese audiences’ dissatisfaction with Takaichi’s remarks.
The situation has alarmed Japanese business leaders, prompting them to urge Takaichi to pursue measures for de-escalation during a recent meeting. Following this dialogue, Tokyo sent a senior foreign ministry official to Beijing for discussions aimed at addressing the budding crisis.
Japan’s stance on Taiwan remains unchanged. Takaichi emphasized that any attack on Taiwan could be perceived as an existential threat to Japan, which is constitutionally constrained from engaging in military actions.
The threat of Japanese involvement in a potential Taiwan conflict remains concerning for Beijing, especially given the implications of the US-Japan security treaty, which could draw in US support for Japan in the event of conflict.
In light of the rising anti-Japanese sentiment within China, Japan has advised its citizens residing and traveling in China to take heightened security precautions. This includes avoiding crowded areas and staying vigilant, particularly for families traveling with children. Japan’s foreign ministry stated that these recommendations stem from a thorough evaluation of the security landscape in China.
While the complexities of international relations and tourism continue to unfold, both Japan and China will have to navigate this delicate phase with care and consideration for their longstanding economic ties.