The Chinese Embassy in Japan has issued a safety warning to its nationals, citing deteriorating public security in Japan, as tensions between Beijing and Tokyo escalate. The embassy highlighted a recent rise in crime and a series of incidents targeting Chinese nationals, emphasizing growing safety risks in Japan.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan urged its citizens to remain vigilant in a post on the social media platform WeChat on Monday, stating that "the public security environment in Japanese society has continued to deteriorate in recent years."
Citing statistics from Japan's National Police Agency, the embassy detailed the upward trend in crime. From 2021 to 2025, violations of criminal law rose from 568,000 to 774,000 cases, while serious crimes such as murder, robbery, arson, sexual assault and kidnapping increased roughly 71 percent from 8,821 to 15,086 cases, the embassy said.
The embassy also pointed to several recent incidents as evidence of worsening security. It cited a case in which an active-duty member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces intruded into the Chinese Embassy, as well as an incident in which Chinese nationals were harassed at a marathon event. It also referenced a case in which a Chinese exchange student in Tokyo was victimized by so-called "collision groups," and an attack on a Hong Kong tourist at a restaurant in Hokkaido.
The embassy argued that these cases are linked to the expanding activities of right-wing forces in Japan. It emphasized that discriminatory incidents targeting Chinese citizens are on the rise, increasing safety risks for Chinese nationals in Japan.
The embassy provided specific guidelines for its citizens. It advised them to travel with companions whenever possible when going out and to avoid areas with poor security or crowded places. It also called for heightened personal safety awareness and stronger self-protection measures.
The move comes amid deteriorating relations between China and Japan. Tensions have escalated since Japan mentioned the possibility of intervening in a Taiwan contingency, and China has continued to urge its nationals to refrain from visiting Japan.
The response has intensified particularly since last month's incident in which a Japanese Self-Defense Forces member intruded into the embassy. The previous day, Shi Yong, the Chinese chargé d'affaires in Japan, held a press conference claiming that there had been additional terrorist threats beyond that incident and demanded a thorough investigation by Japanese authorities.
Shi said that on October 5 and October 31, individuals claiming to be former Self-Defense Forces members had sent threatening letters and made references to remote-controlled bomb installations, but criticized the Japanese side for being passive in uncovering the truth.
