China stepped up its economic war with Japan on Wednesday as a dispute between Asia’s two biggest economies intensified over a remark by Tokyo's new leader about a Japanese response to any Chinese military move against self-ruled Taiwan.

Trump urges Japan's PM not to provoke China over Taiwan. Tensions rise as Japan refuses to retract remarks about possible military action.

Multiple Japanese media outlets reported that when asked whether she had discussed the Taiwan question with US President Donald Trump during their recent call, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dodged the question.

China is trying to impose economic costs on Japan for wading into the issue of Taiwan. But experts say the escalating dispute could ultimately hurt China too.

China first cautioned its citizens against visiting Japan on November 14 amid the worst diplomatic row between the East Asian countries in years after Japan's prime minister said