China again cautions citizens against travel to Japan

(ECNS) — The Chinese Embassy in Japan on Wednesday evening once again reminded Chinese citizens to stay alert to personal safety risks, citing Japan’s deteriorating public security situation in recent years.

From 2021 to 2024, the number of criminal cases suspected of violating Japan's penal code rose from 568,000 to 738,000. Serious violent crimes — including abduction, arson, homicide, robbery, rape and sexual assault — had increased from 8,821 cases to 14,614, marking a surge of about 65.7 percent, the embassy said in a notice published on its official WeChat account.

Since July, the number of requests for assistance received by Chinese diplomatic missions regarding discrimination-related incidents has risen significantly, with a notable spike reported in November. In recent days, multiple Chinese nationals living in Japan have reported being subjected to unprovoked verbal abuse or physical assault, resulting in injuries, according to the embassy.

Following these incidents, the Chinese Embassy and consulates immediately extended sympathies to the victims and provided assistance, while also lodging representations with the Japanese side, urging police to swiftly solve the cases, punish the perpetrators, and effectively safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals. However, many of the cases remain unsolved and the assailants have yet to be held legally accountable, the notice said.

The embassy once again advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and reminded those already in the country to heighten their security awareness and take necessary self-protection measures. It urged anyone encountering targeted or discriminatory incidents to preserve evidence, report promptly to the police, and contact Chinese diplomatic missions for assistance.