Chinese travellers are estimated to have cancelled hundreds of thousands of flights to Japan amid reports of suspended visa processing and cultural exchanges as a diplomatic dispute over Japan's stance on Taiwan continues. Under pressure from business groups, Japan has sent a senior diplomat to Beijing in an attempt to calm tensions after Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said her country could get militarily involved if China attempted to invade Taiwan.
China cautioned its citizens against visiting Japan, a popular destination for Chinese tourists, "in the near future" late Friday. "Recently, Japanese leaders have made blatantly provocative remarks regarding Taiwan, severely damaging the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges," China's embassy in Japan said in a statement. It added that the situation presents "significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan." Following the announcement, three Chinese airlines, Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, offered full refunds or changes to Japan itineraries for free through December 31.