Korea may be keeping its distance from the conflict between Japan and China regarding a Taiwan contingency, but experts warn that its neutrality may not be possible for long.

According to a source in South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Beijing requested the postponement.

The renewed dispute undermines Seoul’s efforts to restore trilateral cooperation in Northeast Asia amid rising threats from North Korea.

Japan is trying to keep the feud from escalating but has shown no sign of backing down. That dovetails with how some other governments have reacted to China’s pressure: Stick to their positions and endure the pain, allowing the disputes to fester for a year or more.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has said that his country needs to calmly watch rising Japan-China tensions stemming from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark over Taiwan and do its best to maximize its national interest.

Japan and China have been engaged in a diplomatic row since Nov 7. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

For the first time since related statistics began to be compiled in 2000, the 10-year government bond yields of Japan and China have reversed.

Trade cooperation between China and Japan has been "severely damaged", the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, urging the Japanese prime minister to retract her comments on Taiwan or face the consequences.