Amid Rising Tensions Over Taiwan Remarks, China Warns 'No Market' For Japanese Seafood Exports

Last Updated:November 19, 2025, 15:57 IST

China warns of no market for Japanese seafood exports after Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, escalating tensions and travel advisories amid ongoing disputes.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Getty Images)

Amid rising tensions between China and Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, Beijing has warned there is “no market" for Japanese seafood exports.

Tensions grew between the two countries after Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. She said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would count as “a situation threatening Japan’s survival".

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has always emphasised the use of force to take control of the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Since Japan leader’s recent remarks, China has summoned Japanese ambassador, sent its Coast Guard ship formation through the waters of Senkaku Islands, which is known as Diaoyu in China, and even warned its citizens against travelling to Japan. Several Chinese airlines including Air China, China Eastern and China Southern offered customers refunds or free changes on certain tickets to Japan.

On Wednesday, China’s foreign minister spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing: “Due to the erroneous remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on important Taiwan issues, there has been strong public outrage in China. Under the current circumstances, even if Japanese seafood were exported to China, there would be no market for it."

“Japan should first retract its erroneous remarks and take concrete actions to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations; otherwise, China will have no choice but to take further measures," he said.

Previously, NHK reported that China had already informed Tokyo that it was planning to ban seafood exports from Japan.

However, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said they are yet to receive any confirmation from the Chinese government on the matter.

According to CNN, China had only partly resumed imports of seafood from Japan earlier this year after banning them in August 2023 in response to Tokyo’s decision to begin releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami in Japan had caused water within the plant to be contaminated with highly radioactive material.

News world Amid Rising Tensions Over Taiwan Remarks, China Warns 'No Market' For Japanese Seafood Exports

Read More