By Cai Siyun, Vision Times
Following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency,” which drew strong backlash from Beijing, China–Japan relations have remained fraught with tense. After the cancellation of all flights on 12 China–Japan routes in late November, authorities have now moved to cancel all flights on an additional 46 routes, affecting tens of thousands of travelers.
Takaichi’s remarks referenced the possibility that if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were to launch a military attack on Taiwan, Japan’s survival could be threatened. In such a scenario, she said Japan could exercise the right of collective self-defense under its security legislation.
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In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly issued a notice urging Chinese citizens to temporarily avoid traveling to Japan. Initial reports indicated that nearly 500,000 China–Japan airline tickets were canceled. By late November, all flights on 12 bilateral routes had been scrapped. On December 22, mainland Chinese media reported that “46 China–Japan routes will cancel all flights.”
Over 2,000 flights canceled
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Data from the Chinese aviation app Aviation Butler shows that flight cancellations from China to Japan in January 2026 have exceeded 2,000, disrupting travel plans for approximately 44,000 passengers. Between December 23 and January 5, 2026, all flights on 46 routes face full cancellation, affecting 38 airports across both countries.
According to China Civil Aviation Network, Aviation Butler’s latest statistics indicate that 2,195 flights from China to Japan scheduled for January 2026 have already been canceled, representing a cancellation rate as high as 40.4 percent.
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Cities affected include Shenyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Ningbo, Xi’an, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Nantong, Shanghai, Yuncheng, Changsha, Shenzhen, Hefei, Beijing, Linyi, Yantai, Guiyang, Yangzhou, Haikou, Nanchang, Dalian, Shijiazhuang, Harbin, and Kunming.
Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports were hit hardest, with flights on 14 routes canceled.
Multiple routes face 100% cancellation
Based on tables already circulated online, several routes from Shenyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Shanghai to Japanese cities such as Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya face 100 percent cancellation rates over the next two weeks. Major Chinese airlines affected include China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines.
Earlier, Yicai reported, citing Flight Butler DAST data, that as of Nov. 24, all flights on 12 China–Japan routes had already been canceled. The scope of disruption has since expanded significantly.
According to The Paper, among all Japanese airports, Kansai International Airport in Osaka had the highest number of direct routes operated by Chinese airlines. More than 10 routes there have now been suspended, impacting a large number of passengers.
From a route-distribution perspective, cancellations are concentrated primarily on Osaka, followed by Nagoya, with additional routes involving Fukuoka, Sapporo, Sendai, and Okinawa. At present, only four routes remain operating from China to Tokyo, originating from Changsha, Kunming, Shijiazhuang, and Yantai.
Impact on tourism
Japan National Tourism Organization data released last week shows that 562,600 Chinese visitors traveled to Japan in November, a year-on-year increase of just 3 percent, significantly lower than October’s 22.8 percent growth. However, total foreign visitor arrivals to Japan rose 10.4 percent over the same period, suggesting that strained China–Japan relations have had a limited overall impact on Japan’s tourism industry.
At the same time, recent polls conducted by Japanese media indicate growing public concern over the economic consequences of deteriorating bilateral ties. A Nikkei poll found that 46 percent of respondents were worried about economic fallout; Asahi Shimbun reported 53 percent, while Kyodo News recorded 59.9 percent.
Despite these concerns, the Takaichi administration’s approval ratings remain high, hovering around 70 percent. Polls by Nikkei show support at 75 percent, Yomiuri Shimbun at 73 percent, and Kyodo News at 67.5 percent.
