Seoul shouldn't take sides between Japan and China: South Korea president

South Korea's leader said Wednesday Seoul should not take sides between Japan and China as the two parties squabble over Taiwan.

"There is a Korean saying: 'Stop a fight, but help make a deal.' Japan and China are in conflict, and taking sides only worsens tensions," said President Lee Jae Myung at a news conference.

"The ideal approach is to coexist, respect one another, and cooperate as much as possible," he said, describing northeast Asia as a "highly dangerous region in terms of military security".

Tokyo and Beijing have been locked in an escalating dispute after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Tokyo could intervene militarily should China invade Taiwan.

The comments triggered a sharp diplomatic backlash from Beijing, which has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan.

Several cultural events have also been disrupted, including a Japanese singer's performance in Shanghai, which was cancelled.

China regards self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the democratic island under its control. 

AFP