Beijing, China – The Japanese Embassy in China issued an urgent warning to its citizens residing in the country on Friday. This comes ahead of the anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre on December 13.
According to the Nikkei Shimbun, this warning comes amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. These tensions have recently escalated due to remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting “intervention in Taiwan.” This raises the possibility of increased anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese public.
Tips to avoid friction
In its warning, the Japanese embassy urged citizens to “pay attention to the growing anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese people and make every effort to ensure safety when going out.”
The preventive measures requested by the embassy included the following:
Avoiding crowded places: not gathering in places where Japanese people are frequently present.
Language and dress: Avoid speaking Japanese loudly in public. Also, avoid wearing clothing that can be easily identified as Japanese.
Precautions for children: Emphasize taking adequate precautions, especially when traveling with children.
China continues to commemorate the anniversary with new documents.
The Japanese warning coincides with China’s continued commemoration of the massacre committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing in 1937. The Chinese side estimates the number of victims at between 200,000 and 300,000 people.
China Central Television (CCTV) reported that an event to donate historical materials related to “Japanese military crimes” was held at the memorial hall for the victims of the massacre.
During the event, 13 new artifacts and historical materials were unveiled. These included letters from the Japanese army and photographs taken after the occupation of Nanjing. Chinese experts described these materials as “a powerful counterattack against right-wing forces in Japan” and said they provide “irrefutable support for restoring the truth of history.”
