Chinese airlines began issuing refunds for flights to Japan after Beijing urged its citizens to avoid travel, citing a sharply deteriorating atmosphere in bilateral relations. The advisory, issued by China’s Foreign Ministry, followed a deepening diplomatic dispute triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks about Japan potentially responding to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

In its warning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that “the atmosphere surrounding people-to-people exchanges has severely deteriorated, posing serious risks to the safety of Chinese citizens."

Travel platforms and airlines such as China Eastern and Air China subsequently announced that they would allow passengers to cancel Japan-bound flights without penalty.

What’s Behind Japan-China Rift?

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