Japan is mounting a broad diplomatic effort to ease tensions with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan sparked a sharp backlash from Beijing that raised fears of a breakdown in economic ties.

Less than a month into her term, Japan's conservative leader has stirred tensions with China by suggesting a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.

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.

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

China advised its citizens Friday to refrain from traveling to Japan in the near future. It cited earlier attacks against Chinese in Japan and what it called Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi 's "erroneous remarks" on Taiwan, which it said undermined the atmosphere for China-Japan exchange.

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,

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.