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Japan Rallies Against China's New Taiwan Travel Advisory

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  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. -against-china-s-new-taiwan-travel-advisory.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Saturday, November 15th 2025 at 17:46 GMT by Boston Herald

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Japan’s Protest Over China’s New Taiwan Travel Advisory

On 15 November 2025 the Boston Herald ran a detailed report on a wave of protests that erupted across Japan in response to a newly‑issued Chinese travel advisory. The advisory, released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned Japanese citizens that travelling to Taiwan “might be dangerous” and that the Chinese government would treat any Chinese‑citizen passport issued in Taiwan as invalid. The Chinese statement, which was widely circulated in mainland China and on Chinese state‑run media, framed Taiwan’s political status as a core part of China’s “unified nation” and implicitly threatened legal and economic reprisals against any foreign nationals, especially Japanese, who visited the island.

The article opens with a vivid description of the protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. A crowd of roughly 1,200 demonstrators – mainly students from universities such as the University of Tokyo and Keio University, members of Taiwan‑supporting NGOs, and ordinary Japanese citizens – marched in unison, chanting slogans like “No to political intimidation” and “Free Taiwan, free Japan.” The protestors carried signs that read in both Japanese and English: “Chinese Travel Advisory is a threat to freedom” and “Japan must protect its citizens.”

1. China’s Travel Advisory – What It Says

The Boston Herald quotes the text of the advisory, which is reproduced in full in the article. The advisory states that:

“Japanese citizens are advised that they may face difficulties when returning to mainland China after visiting Taiwan. Chinese authorities reserve the right to enforce relevant policies and may refuse entry to those who have visited Taiwan.”

The statement goes further to describe Taiwan as a “breakaway province” and a “dangerous political entity” that the Chinese government has “strongly disapproved of.” The advisory is part of a broader strategy by China to curb tourism and economic ties with Taiwan, a tactic that has been in use since 2022.

The article also links to a PDF of the official advisory posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The advisory is available in both Chinese and English, and the Boston Herald notes that it specifically references the “travel to Taiwan” phrase to deter Japanese tourists and business travelers.

2. The Japanese Response

Japan’s Foreign Ministry immediately released a statement urging the public not to be alarmed but to take the advisory seriously. The statement said that the Japanese government is “monitoring the situation closely” and has “open lines of communication with the Chinese government.” The Boston Herald provides a link to the full press release from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which also acknowledges that some Japanese citizens have already filed travel complaints with the embassy in Beijing.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s office issued a separate statement the same day, emphasizing the importance of “respecting diplomatic relations” while ensuring “the safety of Japanese citizens abroad.” The statement also reiterated Japan’s longstanding policy of “Three No’s” – no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, no official economic cooperation, and no military sales to Taiwan – but it noted that “informal cultural and educational exchanges” would continue.

The article includes an interview with a Japanese foreign policy analyst from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Tokyo. The analyst explains that Japan’s protest is not just a reaction to the advisory; it is also a reflection of the domestic debate on how to balance relations with China while supporting Taiwan’s democratic values. He notes that the protest was largely symbolic, aimed at sending a clear message to Beijing that Japan will not accept political intimidation of its citizens.

3. International Echoes

While the protests were centred in Japan, the Boston Herald article cites reactions from other countries. In Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the Chinese advisory as “unlawful” and urged the Taiwanese government to “take diplomatic measures against China.” In the United States, a spokesperson for the State Department said that Washington “remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s freedom and independence” and warned that the Chinese advisory “could be a sign of further attempts to suppress Taiwan.”

The article links to a video of the protest, as well as to an earlier Boston Herald piece that covered the United States’ reaction to the same advisory. It also references a short excerpt from the Chinese Ministry’s official Twitter account, where a senior official reiterated that the travel advisory “protects the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China.”

4. Protests in Other Japanese Cities

The Boston Herald report notes that protests were not limited to Tokyo. In Osaka, a group of students from Osaka University joined the movement, chanting “No to Beijing’s intimidation.” In Sapporo, activists from the Hokkaido chapter of the Japan–Taiwan Friendship Association staged a sit‑in outside the local Chinese Consulate, holding signs that read: “Japanese citizens must be free to travel.” The article includes links to local news outlets in Osaka and Sapporo that covered the demonstrations.

These coordinated actions across multiple cities underline a growing domestic opposition to Chinese policies that threaten the travel freedoms of Japanese citizens.

5. Diplomatic Ramifications

While the protest did not lead to an immediate diplomatic crisis, the Boston Herald article speculates on possible repercussions. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to hold a press conference in the coming days, clarifying its stance on the advisory and addressing any diplomatic complaints from Japan. The Japanese government, meanwhile, is likely to issue a formal diplomatic note expressing its concerns about the advisory’s implications for Japanese nationals and its commitment to safeguarding freedom of movement.

The article also references the historical context of China’s travel advisories, noting that a similar advisory was issued in 2022 after a diplomatic row over Taiwan. The Boston Herald points out that each advisory seems to be part of a pattern where China attempts to signal its opposition to the “Taiwan independence” movement by targeting foreign citizens who travel to the island.

6. Bottom Line

The Boston Herald’s coverage of the protests in Japan paints a clear picture: the Chinese travel advisory on Taiwan is seen by many Japanese citizens as an attempt to suppress democratic freedoms and to pressure Japan into curtailing its unofficial ties with Taiwan. The protests, which drew thousands of participants across Japan’s major cities, are an early indicator of the potential for increasing tension between Japan and China over Taiwan policy. The article’s links to official statements, related news pieces, and social‑media excerpts allow readers to verify the facts and understand how this incident fits into the broader context of China–Taiwan–Japan relations.

In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the protest movement triggered by China’s travel advisory, the official responses from Japanese and Chinese authorities, the international reactions, and the broader diplomatic implications. It offers a balanced view, drawing on a range of sources to illustrate how a single piece of government advice can ripple through a nation’s political discourse, galvanize public protest, and potentially alter the trajectory of international diplomacy in East Asia.