Japan issues safety alert for citizens in China as diplomatic row escalates

Japan has urged its citizens in mainland China to take safety precautions as diplomatic tensions sparked by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan continue to escalate.

In a message on its website, the Japanese embassy in Beijing said it was repeating “safety measures in light of recent local media coverage concerning Japan-China relations”.

“When going out, please remain vigilant of your surroundings, such as the approach of suspicious individuals, and endeavour to ensure your safety as much as possible, for instance by travelling in groups,” the message said in Japanese.

Those who are accompanied by children should “take particular care”, it added.

Japanese citizens should also avoid crowded places and areas popular with other Japanese nationals, it said.

“If you notice any individuals or groups that seem suspicious in any way, do not approach them and leave the area promptly,” it said, adding that citizens who “feel uneasy” should contact the embassy.

Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo flared after Takaichi told the parliament earlier this month that the military could be deployed if there was a situation involving an armed attack against Taiwan.

Beijing accused Takaichi of meddling in its internal affairs and demanded the comment be retracted. Tokyo said Takaichi’s remarks were “hypothetical” and that Japan’s position regarding the self-ruled island had not changed from that stated in the Japan-China Joint Communique of 1972.

  

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