As diplomatic tensions between China and Japan escalate, some Chinese tourists visiting Japan are disguising their passports to avoid perceived discrimination stemming from anti-Chinese sentiment, sparking controversy online.
Chinese travelers have been sharing methods of concealing their nationality by placing covers resembling Taiwanese or Japanese passports over their Chinese passports, according to Japan's Nikkan Sports and Taiwan's Liberty Times on Saturday.
One Chinese tourist posted photos on social media showing a green passport cover bearing "Republic of China (Taiwan)" placed over a red Chinese passport. "Traveling became much easier this way," the tourist claimed.
Another Chinese internet user shared information about Japanese passport-design covers sold on Taobao, China's major e-commerce platform. "I'm sharing the method and where to buy it so others can use it as a reference," the user wrote, appearing to encourage imitation.
Taiwanese internet users who encountered the posts responded with anger. "Chinese people pretending to be Taiwanese is fraud," one wrote. "Do they want to naturalize to Taiwan?" another asked.
"This post sparked outrage among Taiwanese living in Japan. The content triggered significant controversy on local social media," the Liberty Times reported.
The posts spread through Taiwanese expatriate communities in Japan, intensifying the backlash. Online reactions included comments such as "Chinese people should not disguise themselves as Taiwanese or Japanese" and "Isn't this illegal?"
Some Taiwanese netizens responded with skepticism: "Customs can distinguish passports. That's just self-comfort."
Interestingly, the Liberty Times also introduced an opposite case from Korea. As anti-Chinese sentiment has grown stronger in Korea recently, some Taiwanese tourists have reportedly worn badges stating "I am Taiwanese" while traveling. When photos of this circulated online, some Korean internet users left apologetic messages, saying "Those who promote hatred are only a minority."
Japan does not restrict placing covers on the exterior of passports. However, legal experts note that if authorities determine the intent is to mislead immigration officials by making a passport appear to be from another country or to conceal one's identity, it could constitute forgery or alteration of private documents and potential violations of immigration control laws.
