A meeting of culture ministers from South Korea, China and Japan scheduled for next week has been canceled amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on Thursday that it had been informed by China's Ministry of Culture on Tuesday that the three-nation culture ministers' meeting was tentatively postponed. The gathering was scheduled for Monday in Macao.

The three nations have been holding the high-level gathering every year since 2007 to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation. 

The culture ministry said China's ministry did not specify the reason for the delay. 

The cancellation comes as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Taiwan have sparked economic and diplomatic reprisals from China, including a suspension of seafood imports from Japan.

Earlier this month, Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response.