China to Ban Japanese Seafood Imports Amid Taiwan Row

China will reimpose a ban on imports of Japanese seafood products, media reports said, as the diplomatic row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments on Taiwan escalated and officials braced for a prolonged dispute, Jesse Johnson reported for Japan Times.

Tokyo and Beijing reached an agreement in September last year to resume imports. (Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう Wikimedia Commons) 

The ban would effectively return to one put in place in August 2023, following Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Tokyo and Beijing reached an agreement in September last year to resume imports, with Japan confirming the first shipment of seafood to China less than two weeks ago.

NHK said China had explained that the ban was necessary to monitor the wastewater being released from the No. 1 plant, with the import halt lasting “for the foreseeable future.”