China closely monitoring Japan election, eye on new opposition bloc

BEIJING - China has been closely monitoring the snap general election to be held in Japan on Feb. 8 amid a diplomatic dispute with Tokyo, with state-run media reporting Friday's dissolution of the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as breaking news.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun declined to comment on Japan's "internal affairs" at a press conference, but some Chinese media reports have highlighted Beijing's interest in a new opposition bloc, the Centrist Reform Alliance.