• Trump urged Japan's PM Takaichi to avoid escalating tensions with China regarding Taiwan.
• The diplomatic dispute intensified after Takaichi's comments on possible military intervention over Taiwan.
• China warned against foreign interference in its internal affairs amid the rising tensions.
• Japan has denied that Trump advised Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan's sovereignty.
• Related diplomatic tensions have resulted in economic measures and warnings from China towards Japan.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to temper her comments regarding Taiwan amid escalating tensions with China. This recommendation followed a phone conversation between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, wherein Xi emphasized Taiwan's "return to China" as a core issue for Beijing, according to multiple reports including the Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The dispute was ignited when Takaichi suggested Japan could consider military action in response to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, sparking a significant backlash from Beijing. During a follow-up call on November 25, Trump reportedly urged Takaichi to avoid provoking China, asking her to "lower the volume" on her statements about Taiwan's sovereignty without demanding a full retraction, as cited by the AA and South China Morning Post.

Japan's government has contested reports claiming that Trump intervened in Takaichi's statements, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stating, "there is no such fact." This denial reinforces Japan's position following the diplomatic row caused by Takaichi's earlier remarks, which had alarmed Beijing, as reported by Al Jazeera.

In the wake of Takaichi’s comments, China has taken retaliatory actions, including banning Japanese seafood imports and issuing travel warnings to its citizens regarding Japan, indicating the heightened tensions between the two nations. Observers note that the strained relationships arise from Takaichi’s statements being perceived as a direct challenge to China’s claims on Taiwan, as highlighted by multiple sources including South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.