Taiwan President Lai Ching-te showed his support for Japan on Thursday with a lunch of Japanese-sourced sushi, after China indicated it would ban all imports of the country's seafood in an escalating dispute over the Chinese-claimed island.

Japan and its leader have no right to make irresponsible remarks about Taiwan, the Chinese mainland's top official on Taiwan affairs said on Thursday.

Less than a month into her term, Japan's conservative leader has stirred tensions with China by suggesting a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.

Trade cooperation between China and Japan has taken a "great" hit following the recent remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese prime minister, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday.

China indicated it would ban all imports of seafood from Japan. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Tension between Japan and China has escalated over the new Japanese leader's suggestion Tokyo could intervene militarily if Beijing attacks Taiwan.

By John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked a diplomatic spat with China over remarks last week that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.