(MENAFN) Senior representatives from China and Japan convened on Tuesday to ease rising tensions after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on Taiwan provoked a strong reaction.

The head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Masaaki Kanai, met with his Chinese counterpart Liu in Beijing, according to a news agency, which is based in Tokyo.

Tokyo is seeking to defuse the diplomatic dispute, which has already begun to impact tourism, education, and the entertainment sectors in both nations, the report added.

Earlier this month, Takaichi indicated that any Chinese military action against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could be considered a "survival-threatening situation," potentially allowing Japan to invoke its right to collective self-defense.

China condemned the remarks, demanding that Tokyo retract the prime minister’s statements.

Regarding Tuesday’s discussions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that the Beijing delegation "once again lodged serious protest over wrongful remarks" of Takaichi with their visiting Japanese counterparts.

Mao emphasized that the Japanese prime minister’s comments "seriously violate international law," urging Tokyo to "stop making provocations on issues concerning China."

She further noted that Takaichi’s statements "seriously violate" the intent of political agreements between China and Japan and "cause fundamental damage to the political foundation."

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