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China's recent study abroad warnings and travel cautions spur concerns in Japan; measures taken by China 'beyond expectations' for Japan: media reports

Global Times

By Xing Xiaojing and Shen Sheng Published: Nov 16, 2025 11:19 PM

China's multiple authorities intensively protested and took corresponding measures following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent erroneous and provocative remarks on Taiwan Straits, which were seen as a blatant interference in China's internal affairs.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Education issued a study abroad warning, suggesting Chinese nationals to carefully plan study arrangements to Japan. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy and consulates in Japan advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan and to remain vigilant about local security conditions. Several airlines have also announced that tickets for Japan-related routes, meeting specific conditions, can be refunded or changed for free.

A series of measures taken by China has sparked widespread attention and concern within Japanese society. According to Japan's Mainichi Shimbun on Sunday, due to the large number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan, these actions may have a significant impact on Japan's tourism industry.

Jiji Press reported on the same day that Chinese side may continue to take corresponding measures, and if the conflict persists, the cooling of China-Japan relations will be inevitable.

A Japanese scholar told the Global Times on Sunday that Takaichi's erroneous remarks were not accidental, but rather a reflection of the rising tide of historical revisionism within Japan. China's strong response this time is also a warning against this systemic rightward shift. If the Japanese government ignores the core interests of its neighboring countries, it will ultimately harm Japan's own security and economic prospects.

Opposition to Takaichi's remarks in the Diet is intensifying, and the Japanese government is distressed by this, Kyodo News reported on Sunday. On the one hand, the Japanese government has rejected China's demand for the retraction of Takaichi's remarks, with sources revealing that "it is absolutely impossible to agree." On the other hand, there is concern that China's measures could extend to economic areas, such as rare-earth export controls, said the report.

According to another Kyodo News report, Japan's Constitutional Democratic Party Chairman Honjo Tomofumi criticized Takaichi's understanding of Japan's security legislation as insufficient and noted that her understanding of Taiwan's significance for China was also lacking. Tamura Norihisa, the acting Policy Research Committee Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, who appeared on the same program, acknowledged that the Prime Minister is reflecting on this, and there will likely be no such comments in the future.

The measures taken by China, such as calling for nationals to delay travel to Japan, have been 'beyond expectations' for Japan, Kyodo News reported, citing government officials who noted that Japan is currently at a crossroads, expressing concern that if the situation continues to stalemate, the country could face economic retaliatory actions.

"Because there are differences in positions, it is important to maintain multilayered communication between Japan and China," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told the media on Saturday. Minoru Kihara stressed, "We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate actions," according to Nikkei Asia.

Kyodo News reported that Japan is seeking to communicate with China during the G20 summit, but a Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "There is no conclusion at this time, and it is unclear how things will develop in the future."

"Takaichi should retract her erroneous remarks interfering in China's internal affairs, apologize to the Chinese government, and resign as prime minister," Yasukatsu Matsushima, a professor at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, told the Global Times.

If she fails to do so, he warned, it will inflict irreversible negative consequences on Japanese society. For instance, the number of Chinese students and tourists may decline, worsening the operating conditions of Japanese universities and tourism-related businesses. In addition, if China restricts exports of rare earths and other critical resources, Japan's economy would likely suffer a heavy blow.

Matsushima noted that in the past, even when some Japanese politicians made provocative remarks, China generally responded with restraint and maintained a pragmatic and low-key policy toward Japan. But this time, Takaichi's comments touched on China's core interests, making it impossible for Beijing to ignore them, and sharply escalating tensions between the two countries.

In his view, China's current countermeasures point directly to the political trends emerging within Japanese society. Allowing right-wing forces to continue steering policy, Matsushima said, will push Japan toward a dangerous abyss.

"Takaichi's wrongful comments are not accidental but reflect the resurgence of historical revisionism in Japan," he stressed. "China's strong response is a warning against this systemic right-leaning shift. If the Japanese government remains stubborn in disregarding its neighbor's core interests, the regional balance will be further destabilized—ultimately harming Japan's own security and economic prospects."

The future trajectory of China-Japan relations will depend, first of all, on whether Japan's domestic political checks and balances can function effectively. High-level politicians across Japan do not share Takaichi's erroneous stance, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

How much the Liberal Democratic Party's moderate, pragmatic factions — as well as opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party — can restrain Takaichi's "reckless escalation" will be crucial in shaping Japan's next steps in its China policy, said Xiang.

Xiang noted that it is also possible to watch Japan's substantive military moves. "Beyond the verbal provocations from Japanese politicians, attention should also be paid to Tokyo's sharp increase in defense spending and its accelerated deployment of offensive weapons."

"Third, we must observe the response of Japan's business community and the public. Economic cooperation has long served as the ballast of China-Japan relations. If the hostility and confrontational stance of Japan's ruling authorities begin to seriously erode or disrupt the normal economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, the impact will be even more profound," said Xiang.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on November 13 that Takaichi made provocative remarks on Taiwan, which imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Straits. Despite China's serious démarches and protests, she still refused to change course and take back what she had said.

The wrongful remarks grossly violate the one-China principle, the guiding principles set forth in the four China-Japan political documents, and the basic norms of international relations. That constitutes a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, a challenge to China's core interests, and infringement on China's sovereignty. China firmly opposes and will by no means tolerate such remarks. The Japanese side must correct its wrongdoing at once and retract the unjustified remarks. Otherwise, all the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the Japanese side, said Lin.

Taiwan belongs to China. How to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people to decide and brooks no interference by any external force. The attempt by the leader of Japan to wade into cross-Strait affairs is a serious affront to international justice, a blatant provocation to the post-WWII order, and a great blow to China-Japan relations. If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Straits situation, it would be an act of aggression and definitely meet a firm response from China, said Lin.

"We will firmly exercise our right to self-defense under the UN Charter and international law and defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our message to Japan is clear: Japan must fully repent for its war crimes, immediately stop its wrong and provocative statements and moves that interfere in China's internal affairs, and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it!" Lin said.