(MENAFN) China has notified Japan that it will halt imports of Japanese seafood products, a move that comes as diplomatic friction intensifies following remarks by Japan’s prime minister regarding Taiwan, according to a report by media organization on Wednesday.

Beijing informed Tokyo of the suspension after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on Nov. 7 that a potential Chinese military operation against Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan—language that would permit Tokyo to invoke its right to collective self-defense. The comments provoked a strong backlash from Chinese authorities.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a press briefing in Beijing that Japan has long been expected to uphold strict regulatory duties to guarantee the safety and quality of its aquatic exports. However, she claimed Tokyo has failed to provide the necessary documentation and oversight.

“This is the basic condition for Japanese aquatic products to enter the Chinese market,” Mao said. “At present, Japan is not meeting its supervisory responsibilities and is not supplying the required materials.”

Mao added that given the current political climate, even if Japanese seafood were allowed into China, consumer sentiment would leave it without a viable market. Her comments echoed reporting by a state-run news agency.

She sharply criticized Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks, saying they had “aroused strong indignation among the Chinese public,” and urged Tokyo to withdraw them immediately. Mao warned that if Japan does not reverse course, Beijing is prepared to take “serious countermeasures,” stressing that any resulting consequences would “be borne entirely by the Japanese side.”

The seafood import suspension adds a new layer of tension to an already strained bilateral relationship, which has been tested repeatedly by security concerns, territorial disputes, and the issue of Taiwan.

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