China uses economic might against Japan on Taiwan issue, bans seafood imports

Amid one of the most bitter diplomatic episodes between China and Japan, Beijing has used an economic whip against Tokyo and has completely suspended imports of Japanese seafood, just months after partially resuming trade. The move is a big blow to Japan's fishing industry, which was still recovering from China's 2023 blanket ban on Japanese seafood over Japan's release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The move came amid the two nation's dispute over Taiwan.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had recently made remarks linking a potential Chinese action against Taiwan to a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan.

The ban was reported on Wednesday by Japanese outlets Kyodo and NHK, and was confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry, which said there was "no market for Japanese seafood in the current climate".

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Takaichi's "erroneous remarks" on Taiwan had ignited "strong public outrage" in China, leaving "no market" for Japanese seafood even if exports were possible. "Due to the prime minister's actions that go against the tide and her wrong comments on major issues like Taiwan, there would be no appetite for Japanese marine products in the current climate," she said.

WHY CHINA IS TARGETING JAPAN'S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY?

The Japanese seafood industry is valued at $52 billion.

Before 2023, China used over a fifth of Japan's seafood haul worth billions, which included premium scallops and sea cucumbers.

The dependence on China importing Japanese seafood was evident nearly 700 Japanese exporters had scrambled to re-register for the Chinese market after the partial thaw a few months ago.

WHAT TRIGGERED THE RECENT CHINA-JAPAN CRISIS?

The row began when the newly elected Takaichi answered a routine question in parliament last Friday. Asked what Chinese actions against Taiwan could trigger Japan's right to collective self-defence, her response was: "Battleships, force, or any military operation around Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan under its 2015 security law, potentially allowing Japanese troops to enter the conflict."

Responding to the Japanese PM's comments, China's consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, threatened on social media to cut off Takaichi's "filthy head".

Xue said in a now-deleted post, "There would be no choice but to cut off that filthy head without a moment's hesitation."

The remarks were seen as escalatory by Beijing, which on Sunday despatched four armed China Coast Guard ships to patrol the Diaoyu and Senkaku (Diaoyu) islands.

The disputed Senkaku islands are claimed by China but controlled by Japan.

The Chinese embassy in Tokyo also issued a travel advisory cautioning its citizens against travelling to Japan, citing "serious safety risks".

Earlier, China had warned Japan of a "crushing defeat" by the Chinese military if it tried to use force to intervene over Taiwan.

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