The worst tension between China and Japan in years seemed to be escalating with Beijing threatening economic retaliation. The feud, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks that Chinese moves against Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo, could lead to the collapse of Japan-China ties.

China's consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, threatened on social media to cut off Takaichi's "filthy head".

"There would be no choice but to cut off that filthy head without a moment's hesitation," Xue said in the post that was later deleted.

The Chinese embassy in Tokyo issued a travel advisory cautioning its citizens against travelling to Japan, citing "serious safety risks", Bloomberg News reported on Monday. Earlier, China had warned Japan of a "crushing defeat"

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