And now, China has suspended imports of Japanese seafood.

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.

A new defense agreement between Tokyo and Manila is boosting military cooperation between the two countries as they face rising Chinese aggression.

China stepped up its economic war with Japan on Wednesday as a dispute between Asia’s two biggest economies intensified over a remark by Tokyo's new leader about a Japanese response to any Chinese military move against self-ruled Taiwan.

The Japanese public is divided on whether Japan should exercise its right to collective self-defence if China attacks Taiwan, a Kyodo news agency poll found on Sunday. The survey found 48.8% in favour and 44.

Beijing is flexing its military and economic might to show its displeasure with the Japanese leader’s comments about defending Taiwan. But its aggressive approach risks backfiring.

China has reportedly reimposed a total ban on Japanese seafood imports, just weeks after the countries celebrated the first shipment of Hokkaido scallops in over two years.

Both countries have summoned each other’s ambassadors after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo.

Trade cooperation between China and Japan has taken a "great" hit following the recent remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese prime minister, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday.

China’s consul general Xue Jian in Osaka was the first to respond, reposting a news article about Ms Takaichi’s comments on social media with the caption, “cut off a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation”, which many understood as a threat to the Japanese prime minister.