Chinese investors lose US$55 million in Japan ETFs as ties with Tokyo hit new low


Chinese investors have seen 390 million yuan (US$54.8 million) wiped off the value of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Japanese stocks, as relations between the Asian neighbours plunge to a new low after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan drew the ire of Beijing.

The five ETFs listed on mainland exchanges – four tracking the Nikkei 225 and one mimicking the Topix index – have dropped about 5 per cent over the past two weeks, underscoring how worsening ties could weigh heavily on Japan’s economy, which is already grappling with accelerating inflation amid public complaints about rising living costs.

The tumult hit ETF holders who sought exposure to Japan’s US$7.3 trillion stock market, which is among the best performers in Asia this year.

China has suspended imports of seafood products from Japan and issued a travel warning to its nationals, part of punitive measures against Takaichi for suggestions of military involvement in Taiwan during a parliamentary session. The diplomatic flare-up triggered a three-day streak of declines in the Nikkei 225 this week and sell-offs in companies with big China exposures, from cosmetics maker Shiseido to department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings.
A customer carries a basket in a store selling Japanese food products in Beijing on November 19, 2025. Photo: EPA
A customer carries a basket in a store selling Japanese food products in Beijing on November 19, 2025. Photo: EPA

“Japan’s service-sector activity will soften over the coming months as inbound Chinese flows decline, pressuring retail, hospitality, airlines and tourism-linked real estate,” said Stephen Innes, a managing partner at SPI Asset Management. “Exporters relying on Chinese intermediate goods now face an elevated headline-risk environment, and analysts will begin to stress-test the resilience of cross-border supply chains.”

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