SIMIC

It would be the first such reference to Taiwan in a joint statement by leaders of the two countries since 1969, although it echoed comments in a statement by their defence and foreign ministers last month, Reuters reports.

Beijing has been putting increased military pressure on the Chinese-claimed, but self-ruled island.

The reference alarmed Beijing's state-owned Global Times: "Japan escalated its interference in China's affairs as leaders of Japan and the US made China a focus of their meeting and for the first time in half a century mentioned China's Taiwan in their joint statement," the paper said.

"Experts said Japan should refrain from completely siding with the US to harm China's interests, or the regional stability and the huge benefits it enjoys from expanding economic and trade with China will surely suffer," said the Global Times.

China lodged "solemn representations with Japan and the US over their interference in China's internal affairs and their groundless accusations on China".

China's Foreign Ministry vowed to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development rights.

"Preaching 'freedom and openness', but in fact, the US and Japan are engaged in forming small cliques and inciting confrontation; It will only make the world see more and more clearly the essence of the US-Japan alliance, that is endangering regional peace and stability," the foreign ministry said.