The war of nerves in Asia. One interview triggered an avalanche of restrictions

Talks between representatives of China and Japan aimed at resolving the diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Tokyo ended without a breakthrough, Japanese media reported on Wednesday. The latest sign of escalating tensions is China's suspension of imports of Japanese seafood.

The source of the dispute is a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on November 7. The head of government then announced that an attack by China on Taiwan, which Beijing considers its rebellious province, could be considered a “situation that threatens the existence” of Japan. Takaichi did not rule out that Tokyo would then exercise its right to self-defense.

The talks ended in failure

As reported by the Japanese media, talks in Beijing, held on Tuesday by the director of the Asian affairs department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liu Jinsong, and his Japanese counterpart Masaki Kanai, ended in failure. The Chinese side demanded that Takaichi retract his words. Beijing considered her comments “extremely reprehensible” and undermining the foundations of bilateral relations. Liu described the outcome of the talks as “very unsatisfactory.”

The authorities in Tokyo explained that the prime minister's statement was “hypothetical” and Japan's position towards Taiwan remains unchanged.

China has informed the government in Tokyo to suspend seafood imports

Japanese media, citing government sources, revealed that China had informed the government in Tokyo about suspending seafood imports. Beijing justifies this decision by the need to monitor the condition of treated water discharged into the ocean from the damaged nuclear power plant in Fukushima. China, which accused Japan of “treating the Pacific like a sewage”, introduced a ban in 2023 when the release of water began, and then announced in June 2025 that import restrictions would be gradually lifted from autumn this year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular news briefing on Wednesday that even if these products started flowing into China, there would be no market for them because of the “anger” Chinese citizens feel toward Japan over Takaichi's words.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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