Tokyo: Japan is striving to alleviate tensions with China following remarks made by its leader concerning Taiwan, which have significantly angered Beijing and led to retaliatory measures.

According to Thai News Agency, Japanese media have disclosed that Masaaki Kanai, the director of the Foreign Ministry’s Asia and Oceania Office, is set to visit China to meet with Liu Jinsong, the director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Affairs Department. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, aims for Kanai to clarify that Prime Minister Sanae Kataichi’s statements on Taiwan do not signal any shift in Japan’s security policy and to persuade China to avoid further actions that could destabilize bilateral relations.

Relations between China and Japan have been tense since Prime Minister Takaichi’s statement to lawmakers on November 7, 2015, suggesting that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would threaten Japan’s survival and might lead to military retaliation. Historically, Japanese officials have steered clear of this issue to avoid provoking China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory.

In response, China summoned the Japanese ambassador on November 13 to lodge a stern protest and subsequently warned that Japan would face a severe military defeat if it intervened in the Taiwan matter. Additionally, Beijing advised its citizens to temporarily avoid traveling to Japan, raising concerns over potential impacts on Japanese tourism. Chinese citizens and students in Japan were also cautioned about potential dangers.

The Hong Kong government echoed China’s travel advisory, while major Chinese airlines offered free ticket refunds for flights to and from Japan. Meanwhile, Chinese media continued their criticism of the Japanese leadership, with the People’s Daily, the ruling Communist Party’s newspaper, publishing an editorial condemning Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks as strategically reckless and deliberately provocative.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen commented on Monday, noting that China is mounting a multi-dimensional attack on Japan. He called on the international community to closely monitor the situation and urged China to exhibit restraint and take actions befitting a major power to maintain regional peace and stability.