Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi "discussed bilateral relations" with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday afternoon, Motegi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Manila.

"I believe it's extremely important that we continue to maintain our dialogue," he said.

Long-tense relations between Japan and China have worsened since Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan.

China, which views Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force, reacted angrily, imposing trade restrictions and telling its citizens not to visit Japan.

Kyodo News and broadcaster NHK said it was the ministers' first meeting since the spat.

China's foreign ministry on Thursday stopped short of confirming Wang and Motegi's meeting in the Philippines.

"As far as I know, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had no meeting plans with the Japanese side during his time in Manila," spokesman Lin Jian said.