Japan-China ties have soured further after Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo may intervene if Taiwan is attacked, which Beijing claims as its territory. (EPA Images pic)

TOKYO: Japan has told Beijing to "show appropriate respect" after a Chinese spokesman addressed prime minister Sanae Takaichi only by her name with no title.

Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura said Wednesday that Tokyo had relayed its concerns to Beijing after its foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun referred to the Japanese leader only as "Sanae Takaichi" at a news conference last month.

Historically tense ties between Japan and China have soured further recently, after Takaichi suggested in 2025 that Tokyo may intervene in an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.