Beijing — China has canceled all flights on 49 routes to Japan, according to announcements from Chinese aviation authorities, in what analysts describe as economic pressure tied to rapidly deteriorating bilateral relations between the two Asian powers.
The cancellations, reported by The Straits Times, affect routes operated by Chinese carriers between cities across China and Japan. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) did not provide specific reasons for the cancellations, citing only "operational adjustments."
However, the timing leaves little doubt about the political context. The move comes as Tokyo and Beijing are locked in their worst diplomatic crisis in years, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's increasingly assertive stance toward China and her recent comments suggesting Japan could participate in U.S.-led evacuation operations from Taiwan.
"This is textbook Chinese statecraft," said Tetsuo Kotani, senior research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. "When direct diplomatic channels are frozen, Beijing uses economic tools to signal displeasure. Aviation routes are visible, measurable, and reversible — perfect for sending a message."
The 49 canceled routes represent a significant reduction in connectivity between the world's second- and fourth-largest economies. Before the pandemic, Japan was one of China's top destinations for outbound tourism, with approximately 8.4 million Chinese visitors in 2019. The aviation cuts will further complicate efforts to restore people-to-people exchanges.
Japanese officials expressed "regret" over the cancellations but stopped short of direct criticism. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayato Suzuki told reporters that Tokyo hopes for "stable and constructive relations" with Beijing, but added that Japan would not compromise on "fundamental security interests."
The phrase 漢字 (kanji) for crisis — 危機 — combines the characters for "danger" and "opportunity." For Japan, the current crisis tests whether Takaichi's gamble on closer U.S. alignment can withstand Chinese economic pressure.
Watch what they do, not what they say. In East Asian diplomacy, the subtext is the text.
The aviation cuts follow a pattern of Chinese economic coercion targeting countries that challenge Beijing's core interests. Australia faced trade restrictions after calling for an independent investigation into COVID-19's origins. South Korea saw tourism and entertainment restrictions after deploying the THAAD missile defense system. Lithuania confronted trade barriers after allowing Taiwan to open a representative office.
For Japan, the stakes are particularly high. China is Japan's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $300 billion annually. Japanese manufacturers depend on Chinese supply chains, while Chinese consumers are critical markets for Japanese exports ranging from automobiles to cosmetics.
Yet Tokyo has shown little inclination to back down. Takaichi's government has accelerated defense spending toward the 2% NATO standard, deepened security cooperation with Washington, and joined U.S.-led efforts to restrict semiconductor exports to China. The prime minister's political base — nationalist conservatives within the Liberal Democratic Party — would punish any perceived weakness toward Beijing.
The flight cancellations also carry symbolic weight. Aviation represents connectivity, normalcy, and mutual benefit. Cutting routes signals that Beijing views the relationship as fundamentally broken, not merely strained.
Chinese state media has amplified the message. The nationalist tabloid Global Times published an editorial warning that Japan risks "paying a heavy price" for "dancing to Washington's tune" on Taiwan. State broadcaster CCTV aired footage of Chinese military exercises near Japan's southwestern islands, a visual reminder of China's military capabilities.
Japanese business groups, traditionally a moderating force on China policy, have grown increasingly wary of Beijing. Supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, aggressive Chinese industrial policy, and geopolitical risks have prompted many Japanese firms to diversify operations toward Southeast Asia, India, and Mexico.
"The era of separating economics from security is over," said Katsuhiko Nakamura, chairman of the Japan-China Economic Association. "Companies understand that Beijing will use economic ties as leverage. That changes the calculus."
For travelers, the cancellations mean reduced options and higher fares on remaining routes. For diplomats, they signal that bilateral relations are entering a prolonged freeze. And for strategists in Tokyo, Beijing, and Washington, they confirm what has been evident for months: the U.S.-China rivalry is forcing Japan to choose sides, and Takaichi has chosen.
The question is whether Beijing's pressure will change that choice — or harden it.
