China recently advised its citizens against traveling to Japan, prompting major Chinese airlines to offer full refunds on flights to the country. On Wednesday, Beijing announced it would halt imports of Japanese seafood. These actions follow heightened tensions after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo might deploy military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait—an unprecedented statement from a sitting Japanese premier and a shift from Japan’s traditional stance of strategic ambiguity. n nWhile China has previously used trade and tourism as tools of diplomatic pressure in response to security or sovereignty disputes, analysts warn that such tactics carry significant risks. Restrictive measures may provoke international criticism and damage Beijing’s image as a responsible global actor. There are concerns that these economic actions could be perceived as destabilizing, potentially weakening regional trust and undermining long-term diplomatic objectives. n nThe current standoff highlights the growing intersection between economic policy and geopolitical signaling in East Asia. As China deploys its economic leverage, it risks alienating partners and reinforcing perceptions of unpredictability in its foreign policy approach. The situation underscores the delicate balance between asserting national interests and maintaining stable international relationships. n— news from South China Morning Post
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The risks China faces as it deploys an economic arsenal against Japan
China last week warned its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, with major Chinese airlines offering full refunds for flights there. On Wednesday, Beijing said it would suspend Japanese seafood imports. n nIt is not the first time China has wielded its trade and tourism clout as a retaliatory tool to counter security risks, sovereignty threats or to pressure other countries. But observers have cautioned that the risky tactics could provoke international backlash. n nThe Chinese strategy could affect how regional countries view Beijing, potentially undermining its efforts to position itself as a responsible global power and instead be seen as destabilising the region. n nThe row between Beijing and Tokyo began earlier this month when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that her country could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait – the first time a sitting prime minister has made such remarks, and a departure from Japan’s long-held strategic ambiguity.