(MENAFN) China will reimpose a freeze on Japanese seafood shipments as diplomatic relations deteriorate following controversial Taiwan-related comments by Japan's prime minister that ignited fury in Beijing, local media outlets confirmed Wednesday.

Beijing has notified Tokyo of the suspension, media reported, citing government insiders.

The reversal surfaces mere days after Japanese Farm Minister Norikazu Suzuki announced that seafood exports to China had restarted for the first time since Beijing enacted a comprehensive prohibition in 2023 over discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.

China declared in June it would partially rescind the ban after Japan committed to ensuring seafood export safety and quality standards.

Yet restrictions persist on products from 10 of Japan's 47 prefectures, including Fukushima.

Bilateral tensions intensified after Premier Sanae Takaichi stated on Nov. 7 that any Chinese military action against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could qualify as a "survival-threatening situation," enabling Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.

Beijing condemned the declaration, demanding Tokyo withdraw the statement.

Following her comments, Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian posted on US social media platform X that he would "cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation," prompting formal protest from Tokyo.

Subsequently, China urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, while Japan's chief government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, emphasized Tuesday that Tokyo is "open to all kinds of dialogue" with Beijing.

In Beijing on Tuesday, Japanese diplomat Masaaki rejected the basis of China's travel alert, saying that Japan's public safety situation "is not deteriorating."

Separately, Japan's Embassy in Beijing called on Japanese nationals in China "to work to secure their safety ... in view of the situation, including local media reports about the recent bilateral ties."

Beijing confirmed Chinese Premier Li Qiang will not meet with Japanese counterpart Takaichi in South Africa during this weekend's Group of 20 leaders' summit.

Japan Totally Unqualified for UNSC
Addressing the UN General Assembly's plenary session on Security Council reform, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong declared Japan "is totally unqualified" to pursue permanent Council membership.

Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan "are extremely erroneous and dangerous," Fu stated, according to an official transcript.

"They are an affront to international justice, damage the post-war international order, trample on the basic norms of international relations, and represent a blatant departure from Japan's commitment to peaceful development. Such a country is totally unqualified to seek a permanent seat on the Security Council," the top Chinese diplomat at the world body asserted.

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