Japan moves to tamp down escalating row with China

Japan moved on Monday to tamp down an escalating row with China over Taiwan that has prompted Beijing to urge citizens to halt travel to its East Asian neighbour.

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The dispute erupted after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers this month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response.

Her comments broke with past administrations’ avoidance of public discussion of such a scenario, so as not provoke Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island.

Masaaki Kanai, the Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of Asia and Oceania affairs, arrived in the Chinese capital to meet his counterpart, Liu Jinsong, a video broadcast by the Kyodo news agency showed on Monday.

Kanai is expected to explain that Japan's security policy has not changed, and urge China to refrain from actions that damage ties, media said.