China decided to strike hard. It has multiplied retaliatory actions in response to statements made on November 7 by Japan’s new prime minister, which suggested Tokyo would consider military intervention to support Taiwan if the island were invaded by China’s army or subjected to a blockade. Beijing intends to show Sanae Takaichi that such defiance comes at a steep price, hoping to force Tokyo to walk back its position, while also discouraging other countries from voicing support for the Taiwanese.

On Wednesday, November 19, China announced it would halt purchases of Japanese seafood. Imports had already been suspended for two years after Japan released treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean in August 2023, but resumed in September 2025. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated that Japan no longer met the conditions for resuming these purchases, citing certain technical documents, though the political motivation was clear.

“The erroneous comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have caused strong public outrage in China,” added Mao Ning. “In the current circumstances, even if Japanese seafood were imported into China, there would be no market for it.” Beijing has also stopped advanced negotiations on resuming imports of Japanese beef, which have been suspended since the outbreak of mad cow disease in 2001.

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