Facing reprisals from Beijing for a remark over Taiwan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi must walk a fine line to prevent escalating the dispute without looking weak at home.

Japan's export of lethal weapons sent an "extremely dangerous signal" indicating expanded military capabilities, Chinese observers and media said on Thursday as relations between the two countries continued to nosedive.

Dozens of concerts by Japanese artists were abruptly cancelled across China amid rising tensions over Tokyo’s Taiwan remarks, reflecting a renewed cultural boycott.

By Liz Lee and Tim Kelly BEIJING/TOKYO (Reuters) -Chinese diplomats airing hawkish views, or "wolf warriors" as they are known, have returned to the global stage, drumming up criticism of Japan's prime minister in countries that suffered from its military actions during World War Two.

Diplomatic relations between Japan and China have once again been strained following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's strong statement regarding the possibility of Tokyo's military response if Beijing were to attack Taiwan.

Images of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te holding a plate of sushi have been posted on social media in a show of support for Tokyo after reports that China will halt Japanese seafood imports. The row between Japan and China was triggered by new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting this month that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.