"Going This Far Just to Visit Japan?"... Chinese Tourists Use Taiwanese Passport Covers

[Financial News] Reports indicate a growing trend among Chinese tourists visiting Japan to use passport covers that make their passports appear Taiwanese or Japanese. This phenomenon has emerged amid escalating tensions between China and Japan, following recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting possible intervention in the event of a Taiwan crisis.
On the 4th, Nikkan Sports cited Liberty Times in reporting this development.
According to Liberty Times, a Chinese netizen recently posted a photo on their social media account showing a green passport cover labeled 'Republic of China (TAIWAN)' purchased to conceal their Chinese passport. The post claimed that 'travel becomes easier' with this cover. Until the cover is opened to reveal the actual passport, it is indistinguishable from a Taiwanese passport.
Another netizen highlighted that Japanese passport covers are also being sold on the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao.

Liberty Times pointed out that as anti-China sentiment grows in Japan, Chinese tourists are increasingly using disguise strategies such as these covers to avoid discrimination.
Taiwanese netizens who saw these disguised passport cases expressed discomfort, saying, 'Chinese should stop pretending to be Taiwanese or Japanese,' and 'Does this mean you want to return to the Republic of China?' Others remarked, 'Customs can distinguish between Chinese and Taiwanese passports. This will only embarrass you.'
As anti-China sentiment rises in both Japan and South Korea, innocent Taiwanese are increasingly affected.

Liberty Times noted that Chinese tourists are adopting these disguise strategies to avoid discrimination as anti-China sentiment intensifies in Japan.
Taiwanese netizens who saw these passport covers criticized, 'Chinese should stop pretending to be Taiwanese or Japanese,' and 'Does this mean you want to return to the Republic of China?' Some added, 'Customs can tell the difference between Chinese and Taiwanese passports. It will only bring you shame.'
With anti-China sentiment spreading in South Korea as well as Japan, Taiwanese people have found themselves unfairly targeted. In response, some Taiwanese have started to prove their nationality, a stark contrast to Chinese travelers disguising theirs.

In October, a Taiwanese netizen posted a photo on Threads asking, 'There has been some backlash against Chinese people in South Korea recently. Should I wear this badge?'
The question was accompanied by a photo of a badge inscribed in Korean with 'I am Taiwanese,' reflecting concerns about being mistaken for Chinese.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter