Japan will suffer a "crushing defeat" by the Chinese military if it tries to use force to intervene over Taiwan, China's defence ministry said on Friday, ramping up the rhetoric over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about the island.

Taiwan was occupied by Japan after Tokyo waged war against China in 1894. The occupation lasted for half a century. On Oct 25, 1945, a ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei.

Ms Takaichi had implied that armed attacks on Taiwan could warrant Japan to support the island militarily. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Chinese Type 055 destroyer among vessels to transit Osumi Strait on Tuesday, days after Beijing criticised PM: Japanese defence ministry.

Beijing has erupted in fury after Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Tokyo’s military response. China summoned Japan’s ambassador, accused Tokyo of “revived militarism,

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.