A Japanese official blasted China¡¯s claims that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has altered Japan¡¯s position on a Taiwan crisis as ¡°entirely baseless,¡± calling for more dialogue to stop ties between Asia¡¯s top economies spiraling.

China vowed to take resolute self-defense against Japan if it ¡°dared to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait¡± in a letter delivered Friday to the United Nations. Beijing is seeking to rally international support for its position in a spat over the self-ruled chip hub it views as its territory.

¡°I¡¯m aware of this letter,¡± said Maki Kobayashi, a senior Japanese government spokeswoman. ¡°The claim our country has altered its position is entirely baseless,¡± she said, speaking Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg.