China Issues Safety Warning to Nationals in Japan After Reported Violent Incidents

International

Embassy cites deteriorating public security in several regions and reiterates advice to avoid travel to Japan

China has urged its citizens residing in Japan to remain vigilant following reports of violent incidents targeting Chinese nationals. According to state-run media, the warning comes amid claims that public security conditions have worsened in parts of the country, with no immediate response from Japanese authorities to the latest statements.

Embassy cites assaults and regional incidents

In a notice issued on Saturday, the Chinese Embassy in Japan said security conditions had recently deteriorated in several prefectures, including Fukuoka, Shizuoka and Aichi. The statement, reported by Xinhua, referred to multiple accounts from Chinese citizens who said they had been verbally abused or physically assaulted without provocation, in some cases sustaining injuries.

The embassy also highlighted a vehicle-ramming incident on 31 December in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward, in which two Chinese nationals were seriously injured and required emergency medical treatment.

Travel advisory reiterated

Against this backdrop, the embassy again advised Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan in the near term. Japanese authorities had not issued an immediate response to the allegations or the renewed warning at the time of publication.

Diplomatic tensions in the background

The advisory follows heightened tensions between China and Japan since early November. The diplomatic strain intensified after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could be considered a situation threatening Japan’s survival, a stance that could allow Tokyo to exercise the right of collective self-defence.

Beijing reacted sharply to the remarks, issuing travel warnings for Japan and reimposing restrictions such as a ban on seafood imports, further underscoring the fragile state of bilateral relations.