Tension between Japan and China has escalated over the new Japanese leader's suggestion Tokyo could intervene militarily if Beijing attacks Taiwan.

BEIJING/TOKYO >> Japan has warned its citizens in China to step up safety precautions and avoid crowded places, amid a deepening dispute between Asia’s two largest economies over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

From China’s point of view, the Japanese Prime Minister’s remarks on Taiwan test a red line - a trigger that sets this dispute apart from past flare-ups, analysts say.

Tokyo has launched urgent diplomatic outreach as Beijing ramps up retaliation, media attacks, and travel warnings over Takaichi’s Taiwan comments

Withdrawal follows PM Takaichi’s Taiwan comments, prompting Beijing to issue warnings and cancel exchange events.

Senior officials of Japan and China held talks on Tuesday in Beijing, Japanese government sources said, amid escalating tensions ov

China on Tuesday once again lodged stern representations with Japan over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question with a visiting Japanese senior official, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also urged the Japanese side to retract its erroneous remarks,