China demands Japan PM retract 'wrongful remarks' as diplomatic row escalates

Tensions between China and Japan continue to escalate as Beijing's Foreign Ministry urged Japan to retract what it called "wrongful remarks" by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated dramatically in the past week after Takaichi suggested Japan's Self-Defense Forces could intervene if a Chinese attempt to invade Taiwan threatened the country's survival.

Beijing responded by saying the comments had seriously damaged the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

China has lodged, and said it would continue to lodge, formal representations over Takaichi's statements on Taiwan.

Meanwhile, its Foreign Ministry confirmed Premier Li Qiang has no plans to meet the Japanese Prime Minister during the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa.