Japan has warned its citizens in China to step up safety precautions and avoid crowded places for fear of personal attacks amid a deepening dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over Taiwan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the latest advisory is a renewed call for safety measures as sentiment towards Japan reflected in Chinese media had deteriorated after recent diplomatic events affecting the neighbours' ties.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked the most serious diplomatic clash between the two East Asian powers in years when she told Japanese lawmakers this month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response.

"We have made judgements based on comprehensive consideration of the security situation in the country or regio

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