China Warns Citizens to Avoid Travel to Japan Amid “Major Risks”

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a major travel warning on Friday, November 14, 2025, advising its citizens to “avoid traveling to Japan in the near future.” The warning, which was also issued by the Chinese Embassy and consulates in Japan, cites a severe deterioration in diplomatic relations and growing safety concerns.
The immediate trigger for the advisory is a sharp diplomatic row over Taiwan. The Chinese government has been incensed by “erroneous and provocative remarks” made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi recently stated in parliament that a Chinese military action against Taiwan, such as a naval blockade, could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, a legal term that would allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
Beijing has reacted furiously, labeling the comments “extremely sinister.” On Thursday, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned the Japanese ambassador, Kenji Kanasugi, to lodge a formal protest and demand Takaichi retract her remarks.
In its travel warning, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that these remarks have “severely undermined the atmosphere for China-Japan personnel exchanges” and created “major risks” for the safety of its nationals.
Beyond the political dispute, the ministry also cited a “deteriorating security environment” in Japan as a reason for the warning. The statement claimed there has been a “surge in crimes against Chinese citizens and numerous attacks against them” in 2025. It noted that some of these cases remain unsolved, leading to a worsening safety situation for Chinese visitors.
The advisory urges Chinese citizens already in Japan to “closely monitor the local security situation, enhance safety awareness, and strengthen self-protection.” This is the most significant travel warning Beijing has issued for Tokyo in recent years, signaling a new low in relations between the two Asian powers.