TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Several Chinese airlines are offering free cancellations or itinerary changes on Japan routes as tensions rise over Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s recent comments about Taiwan, per Nikkei Asia.
State-owned carriers Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines said Saturday that passengers may cancel Japan-bound flights at no cost or switch destinations through Dec. 31. Sichuan Airlines and Hainan Airlines rolled out similar policies.
The flight waivers follow remarks Takaichi made in parliament last week, saying a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute an “existential threat situation,” a legal threshold that would allow Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to use force even if Japan were not directly targeted.
Beijing condemned the statement and urged Chinese citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Japan, with senior officials issuing sharply worded criticism of Tokyo’s stance.
Japan remains a top destination for Chinese travelers, ranking second only to Vietnam this year. According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan welcomed 31.65 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2025, including 7.5 million travelers from China, roughly 23.7% of the total, per CNA.
Japan also dominated outbound travel choices during China’s National Day holiday. Airlines expanded capacity on Japan routes this year, yet seats remained scarce. Juneyao Airlines’ five daily flights from Shanghai to Osaka, for example, were fully booked several days before the holiday.
Japan’s major carriers say the political dispute has yet to affect their operations. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines reported no cancellations as of Saturday, while Spring Japan, a JAL-affiliated budget carrier focused on China routes, said reservations remain steady.
Hotels and retailers in Japan have reported minimal immediate impact, though some warn cancellations for group tours could begin next week. Japanese companies operating in China say the diplomatic spat is already disrupting business, with one executive telling local media that talks with state-linked partners had stalled.
Previous downturns in Japan-China relations have triggered sharp declines in tourism. After a 2010 collision between a Chinese fishing boat and a Japan Coast Guard vessel, Chinese arrivals dropped the following year. Anti-Japan demonstrations in 2012 over the Senkaku Islands prompted mass tour cancellations, pushing the number of Chinese visitors down by more than 40% at one point, per Nikkei Asia.
Japan continues to require visas for Chinese, with stay durations varying by travel purpose and financial documentation. The government under former Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru agreed with Beijing late last year to ease certain visa requirements.
