November 20, 2025 | 01:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China reimposed the ban on Japanese seafood, as diplomatic tensions rise between Tokyo and Beijing. According to reports from several Japanese media outlets on Wednesday, November 19, the policy came amid a diplomatic row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remark on Taiwan.
According to The Japan Times, this move revives the ban that was previously imposed in August 2023, after Japan discharged treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
According to an NHK report, Beijing explained that the ban was necessary to continue monitoring the water discharge and will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not directly confirmed the ban, but Mao Ning said Japan has yet to provide "technical materials" as a prerequisite for the continued import of seafood products.
China's Condemnation of Takaichi's Statement
Mao also linked Takaichi's comments to the restriction. According to her, there would be "no market" in China fof Japanese seafood, even if the exports resume. She urged Japan to retract its statement.
"We urge Japan to retract the wrongful remarks and stop stirring up trouble and take concrete actions to safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations," she said. Mao added that if Japan refuses to withdraw the remark, China will take serious countermeasures.
Takaichi made a remark in parliament on November 7 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could be one of the conditions triggering Tokyo's military response. The statement drew strong criticism from Chinese officials and government media.
Response from Tokyo
When asked about the reported import ban, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that they had not received any notification from Beijing. "In any case, regarding China's import restrictions on Japanese seafood, it is paramount that the shared understanding announced by both governments last September is fully implemented," he said, quoted from a press conference on Wednesday.
Kihara added that Tokyo remains open to various forms of dialogue with Beijing. Earlier, the Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Jinsong, expressed his disappointment after meeting with the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Masaaki Kanai.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry report, the meeting appeared to be largely a rehash of both governments’ previous statements. Mao Ning said, "During the consultations, China once again lodged a strong protest with Japan over Takaichi’s erroneous remarks."
She called the statement a violation of international law and damaging to the political foundation of China-Japan relations.
Impact on Bilateral Relations
According to a report from Al Jazeera, this renewed ban on seafood imports occurred just weeks after China lifted a previous restriction imposed in 2023. Kyodo News reported that Beijing informed Tokyo that this step is necessary for additional monitoring of the Fukushima water discharge.
Before this latest ban, China was the market for more than one-fifth of Japan's seafood exports. This dispute has also spilled over into other sectors. China issued a notice for its citizens not to travel to or study in Japan. The Chinese Film Administration also suspended the approval process for Japanese films, including six titles that had previously been given release dates.
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