TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Beijing have once again heated up after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a strong statement regarding the possibility of Japan's military response if China were to attack Taiwan.
The conflict that arose in early November 2025 has now escalated into a national boycott against Japanese products, tourism, and culture. China's restrictive measures have worsened the relations between the two countries since 2023.
The crisis began on November 7, 2025, when Takaichi responded to questions in parliament about the definition of "a situation that threatens Japan's survival" based on the collective self-defense law.
According to a report by ABC News, Takaichi stated that a naval blockade or Chinese military action against Taiwan, including the deployment of warships, could be considered a situation threatening Japan's survival.
She said, "If it involves the use of warships and military actions, it could by all means become a survival-threatening situation."
According to a report by CNA, Takaichi also mentioned that if the U.S. were to aid Taiwan, Japan might be required to intervene militarily in the event of an attack on U.S. warships.
The statement was stronger than that of previous PMs. Previous predecessors of Takaichi had expressed concerns about the Chinese threat to Taiwan, but had never openly explained the possibility of Tokyo's military response.
The statement then received a strong reaction from Beijing. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Japanese Ambassador to convey a protest.
Government media, the Ministry of Defense, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of China also condemned the statement.
However, Takaichi refused to retract her statement and considered the response in line with Japan's principles.
Impact on the Boycott of Japan
1. Tourism and Aviation
According to a report by Al Jazeera, on November 15, 2025, the Chinese government issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. Japan then protested the advisory, asking Beijing to rescind it.
This step was also followed by major Chinese airlines. Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern announced full ticket refunds or free schedule changes for flights to Japan until December 31, 2025. This policy has hit the Japanese tourism sector, which had previously received 7.5 million Chinese tourists in the first nine months of 2025.
2. Warning to Students
According to Xinhua, the Chinese Ministry of Education issued a warning to students currently studying or planning to study in Japan. The ministry warned of increased crimes against Chinese citizens and described an "unfavorable study environment."
3. Seafood Import Ban
The hardest blow came from the trading sector. As reported by The Star, China again banned all imports of Japanese seafood in mid-November 2025, just a few months after easing the ban in 2023, related to the discharge of water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Before the ban, China was the largest buyer of Japanese scallops and sea cucumbers. Currently, over 700 Japanese exporters are trying to re-register to re-enter the Chinese market. However, only three companies have passed the approval process.
4. Boycott of Japanese Films
Film distributors in China also suspended the release of two Japanese anime films: Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers and Cells at Work! According to CCTV, cited by Al Jazeera, this decision was made with caution, taking into account market performance and the sentiment of the Chinese audience. Distributors also viewed Takaichi's statement as a provocative statement that influenced public perception.
Ups and Downs of China-Japan Relations Since 2023
The tension between the two countries has been ongoing since 2023, when Japan began discharging wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. China immediately halted all seafood imports from Japan in protest. However, the contact between the two countries briefly improved in 2024 through the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) scientific verification cooperation.
In May 2024, after six years of stagnation, dialogue between the ruling parties of both countries was revived. According to a report by Al Jazeera, in June 2025, Beijing eased some seafood bans. Then, in early November, Japan resumed exporting scallops from Hokkaido to China as a symbol of the easing of tensions.
The situation then escalated again after Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's statement on November 7. On November 15, the Chinese government advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. Two days later, Beijing prepared to re-impose the seafood import ban, and on November 19, China officially halted all seafood imports from Japan and suspended the release of Japanese films.
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