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.

Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began a visit to China on Monday. Hamada said he hopes Kanai, as a special envoy for Takaichi, will bring "concrete, future-oriented proposals — especially from the business community — for rebuilding Japan-China relations".

A new nationalist pro-military leader in Tokyo, Sanae Takaichi, is matching Beijing’s direct tone over Taiwan. That will keep Japanese companies from $320 bln Toyota to Shiseido on edge. Any damage to brands’ Chinese sales could be permanent.

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.