A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday urged Japan to take concrete actions to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Japan, as crimes targeting Chinese nationals have been on the rise.

"Just last week, we noted that Japanese police arrested five suspects involved in assaults against Chinese citizens," spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing, adding that Japan has also seen a rise in extreme and threatening remarks targeting China online.

Mao said that the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan have been recently repeatedly harassed, both online and offline, by right-wing provocateurs.

"We urge Japan to take China's concerns seriously and adopt effective measures to ensure the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens and institutions in Japan," the spokesperson said.