Ships sail near the Senkaku or Diaoyu chain as officials warn there is no straightforward way to ease tensions

PM Sanae Takaichi broke years of precedent by hinting that Japan could provide military support for Taiwan under certain “worst-case” scenarios such as a Chinese attack.

Both countries have summoned each other’s ambassadors after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo.

BEIJING (Reuters) -A China Coast Guard ship formation passed through the waters of the Senkaku Islands on Sunday on a "rights enforcement patrol", the China Coast Guard said in a statement, as Beijing ramps up tensions with Japan over its prime minister's remarks on Taiwan.

A Chinese diplomat’s call to cut off the prime minister’s “filthy head” signaled a revival of a combative style Beijing had tried to dial back.