Japan's new leader prime triggered the dispute by saying Japan could intervene in a confrontation between China and Taiwan.

China is trying to impose economic costs on Japan for wading into the issue of Taiwan. But experts say the escalating dispute could ultimately hurt China too.

Japan's intention to deploy offensive weapons near China's Taiwan region requires high vigilance from the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Japan and China recently agreed to cooperate more economically. Now, climbing tensions are threatening that cooperation.

HONG KONG -- China will suspend imports of Japanese seafood, according to ABC News partner NHK, escalating a diplomatic dispute triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments suggesting Tokyo could take military action if China attacks Taiwan.

A Japanese official blasted China’s claims that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has altered Japan’s position on a Taiwan crisis as “entirely baseless,” calling for more dialogue to stop ties between Asia’s top economies spiraling.

Beijing suggested it might reimpose a ban on seafood imports from Japan after warning its citizens to avoid travel there and postponing the releases of at least two Japanese movies.

China has sharply condemned Japan’s plan to deploy medium‑range surface‑to‑air missiles on Yonaguni Island, just about 110 km from Taiwan, calling the move “extremely dangerous” and accusing Tokyo of stoking militarism and regional confrontation.