Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan's survival and provoke a military response has sharply strained relations with Beijing.
China has urged its citizens to stop traveling to Japan, and the Japanese ambassador in Beijing has been summoned to the country's Foreign Ministry with a note of protest. The Chinese Foreign Ministry is demanding that the "wrong statement be withdrawn."
Today, Japanese Foreign Minister Masaaki Kanai arrived in Beijing to calm the situation and emphasize that Tokyo's security policy remains unchanged.
Tensions have also increased over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands: Chinese coast guard ships have entered Japanese-controlled waters, and Chinese drones have been spotted near Yonaguni Island.
Analysts predict that the crisis could last for months. During the previous such dispute (in 2012), the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan fell by 25%, which dealt a severe blow to the economy. Today, tourism-related stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell by up to 11%.
