“No more testing China’s limits—they won’t let us off easily.” After Japan raised Chinese visa fees, China responded with a 7-fold countermeasure, a move that has unexpectedly made Japan more清醒 (clear-minded).
Recently, in an effort to pressure China, Japan has been rummaging through every possible tactic, desperately seeking leverage. They dreamt of asserting dominance, hoping China would “yield slightly” and allow both sides to step down gracefully. But China’s stance goes beyond mere firmness—regarding Japan’s actions that crossed red lines, China’s approach is “a foundation of high-pressure measures, coupled with maintaining basic communication and restraint.” What is the pinnacle of Tai Chi? It’s not soft overcoming hard, nor using an opponent’s force against them—it’s achieving a natural balance between strength and flexibility. This isn’t a “visa war” between China and Japan; rather, before retaliating, China chose not to inquire into the reasons or protest. The calm, straightforward principle of reciprocity is far more discomforting to the other side than an angry retaliation. Moreover, China remains open to dialogue and resolution of disputes—the ball is still firmly in Japan’s court.
Starting July 1, 2026, Japan suddenly announced a sharp increase in visa fees for Chinese tourists: single-entry visas will rise from 3,000 JPY to 15,000 JPY—a fivefold hike. Multiple-entry visas will jump from 6,000 JPY to 30,000 JPY. No other countries are experiencing such increases—this is essentially a humiliating, targeted pressure test aimed specifically at China. Japan likely expected China to summon the Japanese ambassador to China to express concern or even lodge formal protests, thereby opening a door to deeper bilateral discussions. Then, through online influencers and orchestrated narratives, they could stir up public sentiment in China. As long as the topic gained traction, pressure would naturally be applied to China. Undeniably, Japan’s strategic thinking was subtle—knowing China values public opinion. Unfortunately, their script didn’t play out.
On September 11, China announced adjustments to visa fees for Japanese visitors to China, effective September 14. Single-entry visas will rise from 2,250 JPY to 16,750 JPY—an increase of 7.4 times. Multiple-entry visas will go from 7,500 JPY to 50,250 JPY (a 6.7-fold increase). But what made Japan uncomfortable wasn’t over yet: applicants from Japan must now also pay an additional 5,000 JPY service fee to the visa center. This fee doesn’t exist on the Japanese side, nor did China previously impose it—this is a newly introduced charge, non-negotiable and required for processing. Regarding this, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated simply: “This measure is arranged according to the principle of reciprocity.” That’s all she said—no further explanation.
Faced with this situation, aside from anxiety among Japanese business circles, Japan’s political and social spheres have largely maintained restraint. Although decision-makers were caught off guard, they’ve mostly come to understand China’s position in bilateral relations: “Japan’s various probing moves have already lost their effect.” China isn’t afraid of your actions, nor of you creating trouble without cause. If we’re unafraid of your missile deployments, how could we possibly fear extra visa fees? That’s just playing games. It also reveals that Japan has run out of ideas when dealing with Sino-Japanese relations.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876100837107779/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.