A group of about 200 prominent Japanese business leaders has reportedly postponed their annual visit to mainland China, the first such deferral in more than a decade, amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over Taiwan. The postponement, first reported by Bloomberg and Kyodo, is widely seen by observers as a worrying sign of fraying corporate diplomacy – long regarded as a stabilising channel in the countries’ complicated relationship. It comes amid Beijing’s intensified efforts to rally a united front against Japan in East Asia and beyond, accusing Tokyo of reviving militarism following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November 7 remarks suggesting an attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.

Full report : Japanese business leaders shelve annual China trip as tensions mount.