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.

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

Diplomatic storms often begin with a few carefully chosen words, yet they can quickly escalate into actions that affect millions of ordinary citizens. The latest tension between China and Japan illustrates this perfectly,

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

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.