Chinese airline forced to offer refunds to passengers amid World War 3 fears
Over 10 Chinese airlines have been forced to offer out refunds for their Japan flights
A Chinese airline was forced to offer out a refund to its passengers amid growing fears around a potential World War Three.
This comes after Japan issued a warning out to its citizens in China, urging them to increase their safety measures.
This included advice to steer clear of any crowded places.
The warning was released after a dispute between the two countries appeared to worsen following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
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Takaichi advised Japanese lawmakers that an attack by China on Taiwan threatening Japan could result in a military response.
Following the news, Beijing has urged its residents not to travel to Japan, causing a plummet in stocks related to tourism.
And it doesn’t end there as over 10 Chinese airlines, including the likes of China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines have been forced to offer out refunds for their Japan flights.
Meanwhile, Sichuan Airlines has canceled its flights bound for Sapporo, a city in Hokkaido, Japan, until at least March next year, according to reports.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee earlier this month, Takaichi said: “If it involves the use of warships and military actions, it could, by all means, become a survival-threatening situation.”
Since then, the Japanese embassy released a note, stating: “If you see a person or group that looks even slightly suspicious, do not approach them and leave the area immediately.”
In a news conference, Kimi Onoda, who is the economic security minister of Japan, said: “If we rely too heavily on a country that resorts to economic coercion the moment something displeases it, that creates risks not only for supply chains but also for tourism.”
She added: “We need to recognize that it’s dangerous to be economically dependent on somewhere that poses such risks.”
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, has spoken out about the recent events by taking to social media.
On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “In case anyone was in doubt, the United States is fully committed to the defence of Japan, which includes the Senkaku Islands, and formations of Chinese coast guard ships won’t change that.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, spoke in a news conference this week, stating that the comments made by Glass were a ‘political show with ulterior motives’.
Concerns have been raised over just how far this war of words could go, with fears surrounding a potential third World War growing.