ISHIGAKI, Japan, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Hitoshi Nakama, 76, sees himself as a frontline defender of Japan's claims to disputed islands in the East China Sea, where he regularly evades Chinese coast guard ships to harvest the bountiful waters.

BEIJING: All scheduled flights on 49 air routes between China and Japan have been cancelled for February, flight data showed on Jan 26, as Chinese airlines extended special ticket change and refund policies for Japan-related travel.

The Chinese foreign ministry said nationals 'face serious ‍security threats ⁠in Japan,' according to a statement it released.

BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China on Monday warned its citizens against travelling to Japan during the Lunar New Year, its longest public holiday, as Beijing's anger over a comment Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made in early November about democratically governed Taiwan showed no signs of abating.

A week in which longtime tensions between neighbors China and Japan ratcheted up economically and politically is drawing to a close with no sign of improvements.

Japan has ramped up its security cooperation with the Philippines in other ways, too, steadily donating vessels and other equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy for years. There are now discussions that the navy could also acquire secondhand warships and air defense missiles from Japan.

Japan underlined their dominance in Asian youth football with a commanding victory over China in the U23 Asian Cup final, defending their continental title and becoming the first team to win the tournament three times.

Japan tourism hits record despite  downfall from China during 2025 Japan witnessed a sharp decline in visitors from China in December, with arrivals