For Chinese in Japan, life goes on – but with an eye on public sentiment

Name: Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
Uploaded: 2025-11-22T03:00:16.000Z
Duration: 4 min 47 s
Description: Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?

Chinese report little visible protest activity to date but memories of 2012 China-Japan tension over disputed Diaoyu Islands linger

Reading Time:4 minutes

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Experts and Chinese on the ground in Japan say China-Japan tension has not reached the heights of 2012 when the two countries were in a row over the Diaoyu Islands. Photo: AP

Phoebe Zhangin Shenzhen

Published: 11:00am, 22 Nov 2025Updated: 11:38am, 22 Nov 2025

For Gu Chuan and his wife, relocating from China to Japan appeared to be a logical choice.

Last year, when China’s economy slowed and optimism about job prospects dimmed, the Beijing-based tech worker did not want his family to put all its eggs in one basket.

The couple considered several options. Hong Kong was ruled out as too far from home, and so was the United States because of its myriad disputes with Beijing. They finally decided that Gu’s wife would go to Japan to study for an MBA and he would follow when the time was right.

If opportunity allowed, they would even consider having a child in Japan. His wife, who is expected to graduate in 2028, visited hospitals there and believed that Japan provided great care with inexpensive medical insurance, said Gu, who asked to use a pseudonym because of the sensitivity of the matter.

04:47

Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?

He is still in Beijing and, as tensions between China and Japan reach new heights, the couple are waiting to see how the situation turns out before deciding whether to alter their plans.

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