TOKYO/BEIJING: China has moved to shut off all Japanese seafood imports, deepening an already volatile diplomatic clash that has rattled political ties, disrupted travel and now threatens a key segment of Japan's export economy.
Media outlets reported on November 19 that Beijing informed Tokyo of the new ban, which marks a sharp escalation in tensions following comments by newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Earlier this month, Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could prompt a military response, remarks China has demanded she withdraw.
Beijing has since urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan, triggering a wave of cancellations that could weigh heavily on the world's fourth-largest economy.
The ban also reverses progress made just months ago, when China partially eased restrictions it had imposed after Japan released treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2023. According to Kyodo news agency, China told Japan the renewed ban was due to the need for further monitoring of the water discharge.
China's commerce ministry and customs administration did not immediately respond to queries. Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries also could not be reached.
The backlash against Takaichi has intensified in recent days. Following harsh criticism from a Chinese diplomat in Tokyo and state media attacks, Japan warned its citizens in China on Monday to take extra precautions and avoid crowded areas. Tokyo maintains that Takaichi's remarks in parliament align with existing government policy, suggesting little room for a diplomatic reset.
China had said in June that it would resume seafood imports from all but 10 of Japan's 47 prefectures. The full re-imposition of the ban now deals a major blow to Japanese exporters eager to re-enter what was once one of their most important markets. Before the 2023 restrictions, China was Japan's biggest scallop buyer and a major importer of sea cucumbers.
Japanese Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki said nearly 700 exporters had applied to re-register for shipments to China, but only three had been approved so far.
The impact is not limited to seafood. China's informal travel boycott could have significant consequences for Japan's fragile economy. Tourism contributes roughly 7 percent of the country's GDP, and visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong account for around one-fifth of all arrivals.
More than 10 Chinese airlines have offered refunds on Japan-bound flights through December 31. One airline analyst estimated that 500,000 tickets have already been cancelled. A staff member at a state-owned Chinese bank said employees were told on Tuesday that requests to travel to Japan would not be approved for now.
The diplomatic rift is also spilling into academic and cultural exchanges. China's foreign ministry said an annual meeting of scholars set to begin in Beijing on Saturday has been postponed. An event promoting Japan-China friendship, scheduled for November 21 in Hiroshima, was likewise cancelled.
China has suspended screenings of upcoming Japanese films, and some Japanese entertainers with large Chinese fan bases have responded by publicly supporting Beijing.
"China is like my second homeland to me, and all my friends in China are my cherished family -- I will always support One China," Japanese singer MARiA wrote on Weibo.