Japan’s brief return to exporting seafood to China appears to be coming to an abrupt halt. After shipments resumed in early November, Beijing announced Wednesday that it is once again blocking all Japanese seafood imports—a move tied to escalating tensions following comments made on Nov. 7 by Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggesting Japan could take military action against China if Taiwan were attacked.
According to Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry said that “under the current circumstances, even if Japanese seafood were to be exported to China, it would find no market.”
China previously shut down all Japanese seafood imports in August 2023 after Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Although nearly 700 Japanese exporters sought approval to resume shipments when China partially eased restrictions in June, only three have been cleared so far. Chinese officials said Wednesday that the renewed ban stems from lingering concerns about Fukushima, claiming Japan has not provided the documentation needed to prove the safety and quality of its seafood, per NBC News. However, the Guardian notes that many observers view the move as part of a widening diplomatic confrontation.
China has been a crucial market, once accounting for over 20% of Japan’s seafood exports—including products like scallops and sea cucumbers. The political strain is also spilling into other sectors: Chinese tourism to Japan has fallen sharply, with roughly half a million flights canceled and more than 10 Chinese airlines offering refunds. Tourism accounts for about 7% of Japan’s GDP, and visitors from China and Hong Kong typically make up around 20% of arrivals. NBC News also reports that at least two Japanese films have had their Chinese releases postponed amid the worsening dispute.