Beijing demanded Tuesday that Tokyo "immediately retract the wrongful remarks, conduct deep self-reflection and change course", adding that Japan must "give the Chinese people a clear explanation."

In response to a question on whether China sees ties with Japan sliding to a new low, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing that the recent tensions stem entirely from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's "blatant and erroneous comments regarding the Taiwan region".

Mao said Takaichi's remarks "constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, seriously violate the one-China principle and the spirit of the four China-Japan political documents, and undermine the political foundation of bilateral relations".

"China's position in safeguarding its core interests and upholding international justice has never changed," the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman added.