China Threatens Japanese Seafood Exports Amid Taiwan Tensions

Beijing has warned that there is “no market” for Japanese seafood, escalating diplomatic tensions with Tokyo following comments by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on defending Taiwan.

The dispute began after Takaichi told parliament that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be considered “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” potentially triggering a Japanese military response. Beijing regards Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign interference, describing Taiwan’s sovereignty as a “red line.”

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Japanese seafood exports would face public resistance in China unless Tokyo retracts its remarks.

“Due to the erroneous remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on important Taiwan issues, there has been strong public outrage in China,” Mao stated. “Under the current circumstances, even if Japanese seafood were exported to China, there would be no market for it.”

The comments fueled concerns of a potential new seafood ban, although Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed that Tokyo has yet to receive formal notification from Beijing.

This latest threat follows a partial resumption of seafood imports earlier this year, after China had banned Japanese seafood in August 2023 over the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant, following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The escalating spat has already affected tourism. Last week, China advised citizens against traveling to Japan. Airlines including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern have offered refunds or free ticket changes, while Japanese tour operators report cancellations. East Japan International Travel Service said it had lost 70% of its bookings for the remainder of the year due to the row.

China has also indicated that further punitive measures could follow if Japan does not take “concrete actions to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations,” Mao added.

The ongoing tensions underscore the fragile state of China-Japan relations and the economic fallout that geopolitical disputes can have on trade and tourism.