China's defence ministry said on Thursday that Japan will have to pay a "painful price" if it steps out of line over Taiwan, responding to Japanese plans to deploy missiles on an island some 100 km (62 miles) from Taiwan's coast.

The remarks come amid the two countries’ worst diplomatic crisis in years, after the Japanese prime minister said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

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.

Japan has raised objections after China advised its citizens to avoid visiting Japan. The move comes amid tensions over remarks by Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, regarding Taiwan.

As China reportedly mulls a ban on Japanese seafood amid a standoff between the Asian neighbors, Taiwan's leader shows support for Tokyo, with his lunch.

Mr Xi reportedly told her that China was willing to “work with Japan to…advance the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship” (with the usual finger-wagging reference to Japan’s wartime “history of aggression”).

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,

China is turning to a well-used playbook to express its displeasure with Japan over a statement by its prime minister on Taiwan