Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-11-17 02:27Market Reaction - The Nikkei 225 index opened with a significant drop, falling over 1% and breaching the 50,000 points mark before narrowing its losses by around 9:50 AM [1] - Several consumer stocks in Japan experienced substantial declines, with FOOD&LIFE COMPANIES down over 14%, Japanese electronics down over 11%, and Shiseido down over 9% [3] Economic Data - Japan's Cabinet Office reported a 1.8% year-on-year decline in real GDP for the third quarter, marking the first negative growth in six quarters [3] - The actual GDP for the third quarter decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter [3] Diplomatic Tensions - High-ranking Japanese officials made provocative statements regarding Taiwan, suggesting potential military involvement, which has drawn significant criticism from China and the international community [3] - The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued travel warnings for its citizens in Japan, citing a rise in crimes against Chinese nationals and a deteriorating security environment [5] Airline Industry Impact - Following the travel warnings, major Chinese airlines announced flexible ticket policies for flights to Japan, allowing free changes and refunds for tickets purchased before November 15 [7][8] - Chinese airlines account for approximately 80% of the flight volume on the China-Japan route, with a significant reduction in weekly flights observed [9] Tourism Statistics - In September 2025, foreign visitors to Japan reached 3.267 million, a 13.7% increase year-on-year, with Chinese tourists being the largest group [9] - In the first three quarters of this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan increased by 42.7%, making China the largest source of inbound tourism for Japan [9] Trade Relations - China remains Japan's largest trading partner, with a total trade volume of $308.3 billion expected in 2024, including $156.25 billion in imports from China [10] - The deterioration of Japan-China relations is anticipated to have negative repercussions for the Japanese populace, as highlighted by Japanese officials [10]