"Very Satisfied as Ill-Mannered Chinese Tourists Decrease," Says Japanese Politician on China's Travel Advisory

Japan and China Clash Over Remarks on Taiwan Contingency
Naoki Hyakuta, Leader of the Japan Conservative Party, Targets China
"No Need to Retract Statements Due to Unreasonable Logic"

As relations between Japan and China continue to deteriorate, a right-wing Japanese politician has welcomed China's travel advisory against visiting Japan, calling it "very welcome." According to Yonhap News, citing Kyodo News on the 18th, Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Japan Conservative Party, stated at a press conference that he was "very satisfied that the number of ill-mannered tourists has decreased."

Far-right politician Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Japan Conservative Party, and Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. X

Hyakuta is a prominent right-wing politician known for making hate speech against South Korea. He also has a history of denying the Nanjing Massacre, claiming it was fabricated. Hyakuta said, "Because of China's unreasonable logic, there is no need for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to apologize to China or to retract any statements that China has taken issue with." He added, "I hope the travel advisory remains in place."

On the same day, Kimi Onoda, Minister for Economic Security, who is considered a hardline conservative within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, also targeted China, stating, "It is dangerous to be overly dependent on a country that immediately resorts to economic pressure if it is displeased." The Sankei Shimbun reported that Minister Onoda reiterated her view that it is not good to be excessively dependent on a particular country for tourism, supply chains, and other areas.

Previously, on the 7th, Prime Minister Takaichi made remarks in the House of Representatives suggesting that Japan could exercise collective self-defense in the event of a Taiwan contingency, visibly worsening relations with China. On the 15th, the Chinese Embassy in Japan issued an official travel advisory on its WeChat account, warning that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, as well as the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Japan, urge people to exercise strict caution when planning to visit Japan in the near future." The following day, on the 16th, it was reported that the Chinese Ministry of Education also issued an advisory against studying in Japan.

Yuyuantan Tian, a social networking service (SNS) account under China Central Television (CCTV), posted a video on the 18th showing the scene after a meeting in Beijing between Liu Jinsong, Director of the Asian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Masaaki Ganai, Director of the Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yuyuantan Tian

In response, on the 17th, the Japanese government urgently dispatched Masaaki Ganai, Director of the Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to China. On the 18th, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing that Liu Jinsong, Director of the Asian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Ganai that morning. She stated, "The nature and impact of Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks are extremely malicious, provoking outrage and condemnation among the Chinese people," and added, "Japan must immediately retract the erroneous remarks and correct its mistakes through concrete actions." After the meeting, footage showed Director Liu with his hands in his pockets and Director Ganai appearing to bow his head, which some speculate was an intentional scene meant to convey China's unease toward Japan.

However, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara made it clear on the 18th that "Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks do not represent a change in the government's existing position," indicating that there are no plans to retract the statement, and suggesting that the conflict between the two countries is likely to continue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.