Relations between Tokyo and Beijing are worsening over Taiwan, yet China may be exercising restraint and waiting for the right moment to hit back.
China has condemned a visit by a group of senior Japanese politicians to Taiwan as another example of Tokyo meddling in internal affairs.
Beijing is ramping up accusations that Japan is swerving back to the militarism that led to catastrophic conflict across the Asia-Pacific region in the early decades of the last century.
Tensions between the two East Asian powers have been rising after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded to a question in parliament last month by saying that any "contingency" involving Taiwan would also inevitably threaten the national security of Japan.
Beijing claims the island is part of China and insists it will be "reunited" with the mainland, by force if necessary.
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