Japan spat having been blown up exponentially by Beijing in recent days, and with Russia looking increasingly like it will soon overrun Ukraine in the coming months half a world away, many in East Asia are asking what would happen if hostilities break out between Beijing and Tokyo.

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.

Japan and China recently agreed to cooperate more economically. Now, climbing tensions are threatening that cooperation.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement on collective self-defense regarding Taiwan has ignited a furious response from Beijing, including economic sanctions and diplomatic protests. This bold stance shatters Japan's strategic ambiguity,

China has sharply condemned Japan’s plan to deploy medium‑range surface‑to‑air missiles on Yonaguni Island, just about 110 km from Taiwan, calling the move “extremely dangerous” and accusing Tokyo of stoking militarism and regional confrontation.

Tension between Japan and China has escalated over the new Japanese leader's suggestion Tokyo could intervene militarily if Beijing attacks Taiwan.

Weeks into the job, Japan’s new leader has come face-to-face with what it means to cross China’s red line on Taiwan.

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