China and Japan are in a war of words over Taiwan – what happens next?

Japan’s hawkish new PM has angered Beijing after suggesting her country could become involved in a military conflict between China and Taiwan

Tokyo and Beijing are embroiled in a deepening row over Taiwan after Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested that her country could potentially become militarily involved in the event of an attempted Chinese invasion of the self-governing island.

Why has Taiwan become a flashpoint between the north-east Asian neighbours and major trading partners, and is there a risk that the war of words could escalate?

Additional research by Lillian Yang

• Japan
• China
• Taiwan
• Asia Pacific
• Sanae Takaichi
• explainers