Amid continuing Sino-Japanese tensions following the Taiwan-related remarks, the report notes cautious messaging by Chinese authorities about studying in Japan. Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki urged accurate information, while China’s education ministry called for careful consideration of studying in Japan. In Hokkaido, 4,753 international students were recorded in 2023, about half from China (2,168). At Hokkaido University, more than 1,000 Chinese students study there. Experts say the impact on students is limited and that most students pursue their own paths, keeping politics at a distance; Japan should continue attracting top students from China and from around the world, adjusting its higher-education framework as needed.