• China resumes imports of seafood from most Japanese regions after a nearly two-year ban.
• Imports from 10 prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, remain prohibited.
• The decision follows assurances from Japan regarding the safety of its seafood products.
• China's customs authorities found no abnormalities in long-term monitoring of wastewater.
• The move may signal a potential thaw in strained China-Japan relations.

China has announced a partial resumption of seafood imports from Japan, lifting a nearly two-year ban that was imposed due to concerns over the discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. This decision, effective immediately, applies to most Japanese regions, but maintains restrictions on seafood products from 10 prefectures, including Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The resumption follows assurances from the Japanese government regarding the safety and quality of its seafood exports to China. Chinese customs officials reported that long-term international sampling revealed "no abnormalities" in the wastewater discharged from Fukushima, leading to this conditional lifting, as noted by India Times and BBC.

Despite this positive development, China insisted that all imported seafood will require health and radioactive safety certifications from the Japanese government. The Japanese government expressed a positive reception to China's easing of the ban and will continue to advocate for lifting limitations on seafood imports from the 10 restricted prefectures, as highlighted by India Times and TRT Global.

The lasting impact of the ban has strained China-Japan trade relations, with China previously accounting for over 20% of Japan's seafood exports. The renewed import opportunities signify a potential thaw in ties amidst ongoing tensions over various issues, including historical grievances and territorial disputes, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.