Tokyo, Nov 19 (V7N) — Nearly half a million Chinese tourists have cancelled their flights to Japan amid rising diplomatic tensions between China and Japan over Tokyo’s stance on Taiwan.

The cancellations come as visa applications have been suspended and several cultural exchange events have been called off. In response to pressure from business groups, Japan has sent a senior diplomat to Beijing to try to ease the tensions.

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned, “If China tries to invade Taiwan, Japan may become militarily involved.” China expressed strong displeasure over the comments and advised its citizens, including tourists and students, to avoid traveling to Japan.

According to The Guardian, at least seven Chinese airlines, including three state-owned carriers, have allowed travelers to cancel flights without penalties. Air travel analyst Hanming Li estimated that around 500,000 flights to Japan were cancelled between November 15 and 17.

Chinese media reported that Sichuan Airlines has cancelled all flights on the Chengdu-Sapporo route from January to March. China is Japan’s second-largest source of tourists, and Chinese students form a significant portion of the country’s international student population.

The cancellations have already affected Japan’s retail and travel sectors, with shares of related companies dropping sharply on Monday (November 17). Hanming Li noted that while this is the largest wave of cancellations since the Covid pandemic, the impact on China’s domestic aviation industry is limited.

END/SMA/AJ