China warns against Japan travel citing ‘significant’ surge in assaults

China’s embassy in Japan has advised citizens to put travel plans on hold “in the near term”, citing a spike in unprovoked assaults and discrimination.

In a security warning issued on social media, the embassy reported a “significant” surge in requests for help since July. “Recently, several Chinese citizens in Japan have reported that they were verbally abused, assaulted and injured for no reason,” it said.

The advisory comes as relations between the two countries have hit their lowest level in recent years following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion to parliament earlier this month that Tokyo would be justified in mobilising its military for “collective self-defence” along with other nations if there was a conflict over Taiwan.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States and Japan, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Beijing has reacted strongly, lodging protests repeatedly against what it has called Takaichi’s “extremely erroneous and extremely dangerous” remarks. Takaichi, meanwhile, has not backed down and has refused to retract her comments.

Beijing has also halted seafood imports from the country, advised Chinese citizens not to travel or study in Japan, and cancelled intergovernmental exchanges and cultural events.