China's authorities have instructed its travel agencies to reduce the number of visa applications for Japan to 60% of previous levels by March of next year, Kyodo News reported on the 25th, citing sources in China's local travel industry.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Japan. EPA Yonhap News

According to local sources, these instructions were conveyed to major travel agencies in late November.

This indicates that the Chinese government issued instructions to the travel industry shortly after recommending its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan on November 14th, citing public security concerns, in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about 'a Taiwan contingency'.

The initial instruction was believed to be applicable until December, but further instructions were issued this month to continue the same measures until March of next year, Kyodo News reported.