Many Chinese tourists to Japan have recently pretended that they are from Taiwanto avoid discrimination, amidst a spike in Sino-Japanese tensions following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on potentially intervening in a conflict in the Taiwan Straits.
Beijing has issued travel warnings, engaged in media counteraction, and exerted economic pressure on Japan in the fallout from the diplomatic spat.
In response to increased anti-Chinese sentiment in Japan, Chinese tourists have begun covering their passports with green covers mimicking a Taiwanese passport to minimize potential hassle while traveling in the country.
Popular Chinese social media users have shared videos explaining how to order green Taiwanese passport covers online and how to attach them to the front of their Chinese passports.
After the videos and screenshots went viral, Taiwanese netizens filled social media with comments questioning the legality of the situation and joking about its absurdity.
Taiwanese Criticize Fake Passports
A Taiwanese expatriate living in Japan expressed disapproval of the Chinese tourists' acts, sharing the original video on Threads with a clear message: "Chinese people, please do not use Taiwanese or Japanese passport covers!"
Passports are often viewed as symbols of identity and political stance rather than just a pure travel document; they represent a long-standing international image and its associated risks, the expat noted.
When Taiwanese assert "I am from Taiwan" when travelling, they acknowledge their political situation; seeing Chinese tourists using Taiwanese symbols as "safety skins" at such a sensitive time is unsettling for many Taiwanese, the expat stated.
While using a passport cover as a travel accessory is acceptable, using it to conceal identity amid particular tensions allows one to enjoy the benefits of being Taiwanese without bearing the associatedcosts of the nationality, the expatriate explained in the comments.
Similar Past Experience
This is not the first time travelers from certain countries or regions have emphasized their nationality due to regional tensions. Previously, during heightened tensions between China and South Korea, Taiwanese travelers wore badges stating "I am Taiwanese" to avoid being mistaken for Chinese tourists amid a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment in South Korea.
Such actions sparked discussions within Korean social media, with some Koreans expressing embarrassment and others apologizing for using simplistic ethnic labeling amidst regional tensions and nationalistic sentiments.
