Graded News for Language Learners

Japan Tries to Calm China-Taiwan Dispute

17 November 2025 · A2 Level

Japan is working to fix a serious disagreement with China about Taiwan. The problem started when Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan might use military force if China attacks Taiwan.

Takaichi made these comments on November 7. She said that if China uses battleships and force against Taiwan, this could threaten Japan's survival. Previous Japanese leaders avoided saying this in public because they didn't want to make China angry.

China became very upset. A Chinese diplomat in Osaka wrote angry messages on social media. China's government warned Chinese people not to travel to Japan or study at Japanese universities. On Friday, China said Japan would face a "crushing" military defeat if it gets involved with Taiwan.

On Sunday, Chinese coast guard ships sailed near some disputed islands. Japan and China both claim these islands, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Japan's coast guard drove the Chinese ships away.

The dispute is hurting Japanese businesses. Many companies saw their stock prices fall on Monday. Department stores, airlines, and clothing companies lost value because China is Japan's biggest source of tourists. Chinese visitors spend a lot of money in Japan on cosmetics, clothes, and electronics.

Now Japan is trying to calm the situation. A senior Japanese diplomat, Masaaki Kanai, will meet with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing this week. He will explain that Takaichi's comments don't mean Japan's security policy has changed. He will also ask China to stop actions that damage the relationship.

Taiwan is very close to Japan - only 110 kilometers from Japan's nearest island. Taiwan also sits near important shipping routes that Japan needs for oil and gas.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said China is conducting a "multifaceted attack" on Japan. He asked China to show restraint and act responsibly.

Both countries are important trading partners, but they often have tensions over history and territory. Japan hopes diplomatic talks can improve the situation.