The row kicked off when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan.

AFP looks at what actions China has taken against Japan since the dispute between Asia's two biggest economies began:

- November 13: ambassador summoned -

China summons Japan's ambassador and demands -- in vain -- that Takaichi retract her remarks.

The next day Japan calls in China's ambassador over a social media post by the Chinese Consul General in Osaka threatening, with apparent reference to Takaichi, to "cut off that dirty neck".

- November 14: travel warning -

China's embassy warns its citizens against travel to Japan, citing "significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens".

China was the largest source of tourists to Japan last year -- with around 8.8 million visiting in the first 11 months of 2025 -- and travel and consumer stocks tumble on the Nikkei.

- November 19: seafood import ban -

Japanese media report that China will suspend imports of Japanese seafood.

China had only recently resumed purchasing some items after banning them following Japan's release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2023.

The next day Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is pictured eating sushi and on November 21 Taipei lifts all restrictions on Japanese food imports.

- November 21: letter to UN -

China writes a letter to the United Nations accusing Tokyo of threatening "an armed intervention" over Taiwan and vowing to defend itself.

China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong says in the letter that Takaichi committed "a grave violation of international law" and diplomatic norms in her comments on Taiwan.

- December 6: mid-air incident -

J-15 jets from China's Liaoning aircraft carrier twice lock radar on Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa, according to Japan.

On December 9, Russian and Chinese bombers rendezvous in the East China Sea and fly around Japan, Tokyo says.

The next day the Japanese and US air forces conduct their own "tactical exercises" involving two US B52 bombers.

- December 29: Taiwan exercises -

China begins major military drills with dozens of fighter aircraft and navy ships conducting live-fire drills around Taiwan.

Japan says China's sixth set of major manoeuvres in recent years "increase tensions".

- January 6: export controls -

China announces tightened controls on exports to Japan for items with potential military uses.

The statement fuels worries that Beijing may choke supplies of vital rare earth minerals, some of which are included in China's list of "dual-use" goods.

An earlier spat in 2010 saw Japan move to reduce its dependence on Beijing for rare earths but more than 70 percent still come from China, according to Tokyo.

- January 7: anti-dumping probe -

China launches an anti-dumping probe into imports from Japan of a key chemical used to make semiconductors.

Beijing's commerce ministry says imports of dichlorosilane from Japan "damaged the production and operation of domestic industries".

- January 8: reports of snags -

China's commerce ministry says that firms engaged in normal civilian trade "have absolutely no need to worry" about the new restrictions.

But media reports say that China has begun choking off exports of rare earths, as well as holding up sake and food imports from Japan into China.

- January 27: pandas leave -

Tokyo returns its last two pandas -- animals long used by Beijing in diplomacy -- to China a month before their loan expires in February, leaving Japan without the bears for the first time in 50 years.

- February 24: export ban -

China takes action against 40 Japanese companies and entities, citing national security concerns.

It imposes export controls on 20 entities it says enhance Japan's military capabilities, and adds another 20 organisations to its "watch list" requiring stricter reviews of exports of "dual-use items".

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