China on Wednesday called on Japan to stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatists.

Asked to comment on reports that Tsai Ing-wen, a former leader of the Taiwan region, visited Japan, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has protested to Japan and cautioned it over the visit.

Noting that Tsai is the former leader of China's Taiwan region, Lin said there is no rationale that can ever justify her trip to Japan or make it permissible, nor can they hide the trip's real purpose: to seek foreign support for "Taiwan independence."

Japan bears historical responsibilities on the Taiwan question and should therefore act all the more prudently on related issues, he said.

China calls on Japan to earnestly abide by the one-China principle, properly handle relevant issues, not interfere in China's internal affairs in any form, and stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatists, he added.