Taiwan has declared that it will lift all remaining import controls on Japanese food products. This important move comes at a time of high diplomatic tensions between China and Japan. The decision, made public on Friday, November 21, 2025, during a press conference in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, reflects the island’s commitment to supporting its neighbors amid geopolitical challenges.
In response to Japan’s expanded list, China slapped wide-reaching trade restrictions against Japanese products. This latest move is the continuation of a growing diplomatic spat with Tokyo. Taiwan is removing these import controls mainly to strengthen its trade relations with Japan. This step marks Taiwan’s alignment with its regional counterpart. The ruling especially affects Japanese seafood, which is common in Tokyo’s markets.
Taiwan’s national security adviser underlined the need for countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to support each other in times of crisis. He also reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to deepening economic relationships. This pledge is an important step toward strengthening regional stability and increasing collaboration among countries under siege by malign outside actors. This unifying sentiment highlights Taiwan’s strategic priorities as it carefully steers through its interactions with both Japan and China.
China has been awaiting the lifting of import controls, which will have major repercussions for trade ties between Taiwan and China. Beijing expands its war against Japan. Beijing continues to escalate its trade war with Japan. Taiwan’s move would only further increase friction in its relationship with the mainland. As a result, analysts caution that Taiwan’s planned insertion of its own cards could provoke a preemptive Chinese response. This regrettable response will only increase tensions in the region.
We welcome this announcement at this important juncture. Taiwan wants to make sure that it’s part of the equation in terms of the evolving East Asian trade dynamics. Japan has a deep interest in keeping trade relations flourishing with China. At the same time, Taiwan is keen to enter in and fill the void forged by the escalating PRC-US spat.