China warns against Japan travel amid Taiwan tensions

China urged its people to stay away from Japan and issued a series of stern warnings as the diplomatic spat sparked by Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan threatened to derail bilateral ties.

- SHAHANA YASMIN

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday that the new Japanese prime minister’s “blatantly provocative remarks on Taiwan" had "further damaged the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges, creating additional risks to the safety and security of Chinese citizens" in the East Asian country, CNN reported. It reminded citizens to "refrain from visiting Japan for the time being".

Beijing and Tokyo have traded protests throughout the week in a dispute that has revived longstanding tensions and underscored China's sensitivity around Taiwan.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland - by force if needed - and is lately stepping up military pressure around the island.

The diplomatic row erupted last week when an opposition MP pressed Ms Takaichi on what kind of situation around Taiwan might constitute a threat to Japan's survival.

"If there are battleships and the use of force, no matter how you think about it, it could constitute a survival-threatening situation," she replied.

A "survival-threatening situation" is a legal category under a 2015 security law that allows the Japanese military to operate as if an attack on a close partner - typically understood to mean the US - poses an existential danger to Japan.