China escalates Japan spat with threats of economic reprisal

China is escalating its confrontation with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, with state media threatening major countermeasures after Beijing’s travel warnings raised the specter of economic retribution.

Yuyuantantian, a social media account linked to China’s state broadcaster and frequently used to signal official policy, published a commentary over the weekend warning that Beijing “has made full preparations for substantive retaliation.” The post hinted at imposing sanctions, suspending economic, diplomatic and military ties, and restricting trade as forms of potential reprisal.

Hours later, the People’s Liberation Army Daily reinforced that message publishing a commentary by a state-affiliated scholar warning that if Japan’s military got involved in the Ta