China Partially Eases Ban on Japanese Seafood Imports Amid Ongoing Fukushima Concerns

China has announced a partial lifting of its ban on Japanese seafood imports, ending a two-year freeze that began after Japan started releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.

Beijing confirmed that it would “conditionally resume” seafood imports from the majority of Japanese regions, while maintaining restrictions on 10 out of the country’s 47 prefectures — including Tokyo and Fukushima, where the wastewater originated.

The ban, introduced in 2023, followed Japan’s decision to begin a decades-long process of discharging more than one million tonnes of treated water stored at the Fukushima facility. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had declared the release safe, but the move was met with strong opposition from China, which cited concerns over environmental and food safety.

According to China’s General Administration of Customs, long-term monitoring of the treated water has so far “not shown abnormalities,” leading to the latest easing of restrictions. However, seafood exporters from the affected prefectures must now reapply for registration and will be subject to ongoing Chinese regulatory oversight.

The 2011 Fukushima disaster—triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami—caused reactor meltdowns at the facility, marking the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl. In the years that followed, Japan accumulated vast amounts of treated radioactive water, prompting the controversial ocean release plan.

Before the ban, China was Japan’s largest seafood market, accounting for nearly a quarter of its seafood exports. The restrictions had significantly impacted Japanese fisheries and seafood producers, leading Tokyo to pursue diplomatic channels to restore trade.

Japan’s government has welcomed the partial lifting of the ban, calling it a “positive step,” but has pledged to continue advocating for the full resumption of seafood trade from all regions. Officials said they remain committed to ensuring the safety and transparency of Japan’s seafood exports.

Despite their deep economic ties, Japan and China have long had a strained relationship, rooted in historical grievances and ongoing territorial disputes. The seafood ban had further tested diplomatic relations, though the latest development suggests a gradual thaw amid broader efforts to stabilise trade between the two nations.