In a significant display of public dissent, Japanese citizens gathered in Tokyo on Friday, November 21, 2025, calling for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to retract controversial statements regarding a potential conflict involving Taiwan. The protest, staged outside the Prime Minister’s Office, follows Takaichi’s assertion earlier in the month that a Taiwan contingency could pose an existential “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, a declaration that implicitly invoked the possibility of Japan exercising collective self-defense. This diplomatic flashpoint has escalated tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, drawing sharp reactions globally and domestically.
Organized civic groups utilized drumming and chanting to amplify demands for immediate de-escalation, urging Takaichi to cease what they view as warmongering rhetoric. According to reports from Kyodo News, organizers expressed concern that the Prime Minister’s remarks are dangerously heightening friction between the two East Asian economic powers. Demonstrators held banners bearing messages such as “Peace Above All” and “Don’t Put Japan in Danger,” reflecting deep public anxiety over the prospect of military involvement in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing Responds with Diplomatic and Travel Measures
The diplomatic fallout from Takaichi’s statements has been swift and broad. China, which views Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory, swiftly retaliated beyond mere political condemnation. Multiple Chinese ministries—specifically foreign affairs, education, and culture and tourism—issued new travel advisories, cautioning Chinese citizens planning trips or studies in Japan.
Furthermore, economic consequences materialized rapidly. Twelve major mainland Chinese airlines offered customers free ticket modifications or full refunds for flights to Japan. Simultaneously, several large Chinese travel agencies suspended the sale of Japanese tour packages, signaling a tangible impact on Japan’s tourism sector. These actions underscore China’s concerted strategy to apply multifaceted pressure on Tokyo following the perceived threat to its core national interests.
International Implications and Self-Defense Claims
On the global stage, Beijing formally countered Japan’s legal justification for intervention. On November 21, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, formally communicated Beijing’s position to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Fu asserted that any Japanese military intervention within the Taiwan Strait would constitute an act of aggression. He emphasized that China would reserve its right to invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter, enabling the exercise of self-defense under international law to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity against foreign interference. This move frames any Japanese involvement not as collective self-defense but as a provocative military act, raising the stakes significantly within the international community.
For Japan, the interpretation of a “survival-threatening situation” is crucial, as it legally allows the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to engage in defense of allies, even if Japan itself is not under direct attack. However, this definition remains highly sensitive both domestically and regionally, fueling the protests seen in Tokyo and deepening the diplomatic chasm with China. The situation necessitates careful diplomatic navigation to prevent further escalation and potential miscalculation in one of the world’s most critical geopolitical flashpoints.
Related Reading: Understanding Japan’s Collective Self-Defense Legislation and Its Geopolitical Significance.