TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi not to further escalate a dispute with China during talks this week, sources with knowledge of the matter said, as he tries to preserve a fragile trade war truce with Beijing.

China is turning to a well-used playbook to express its displeasure with Japan over a statement by its prime minister on Taiwan

China is trying to impose economic costs on Japan for wading into the issue of Taiwan. But experts say the escalating dispute could ultimately hurt China too.

With Japan’s new leader refusing to back down from China’s show of force and claims on Taiwan, Xi Jinping picks up the phone to try to pry the U.S.-Japan alliance apart.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she has spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump right after he spoke with China, which was angered by her recent comments about Taiwan.

The Xi–Trump call signals China’s effort to reframe US–China relations from the post-Nixon framework to a post-World War II alignment. This is concerning for Japan.

The head of Japan's leading business lobby expressed hope for favorable economic ties in a meeting with China's ambassador to Japan.

"Call me anytime" was the message Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she received from U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday in their first phone call since Tokyo's leader sparked a major diplomatic bust-up with China.