TOKYO, Oct. 29 -- Hello Kitty has become an unlikely casualty of worsening China-Japan tensions, with her creator Sanrio apologising and cutting ties with a hit Japanese spy drama over its depiction of Chinese agents torturing a Japanese operative.

The entertainment giant scrapped its merchandise collaboration with Vivant following a fierce backlash in China, where state media and social media users accused the series of distorting history and vilifying the country.

The controversy erupted over merchandise featuring Hello Kitty and fellow Sanrio favourites My Melody and Cinnamoroll dressed as characters from the spy thriller, turning an innocent-looking crossover into a political flashpoint.

But the seemingly innocent crossover became ...