Shipments of Japanese alcoholic beverages denied entry into China surged sharply in January, according to Chinese customs data, as political tensions between the two countries intensify.
China Customs said 35 batches of alcoholic drinks were rejected in January 2026, including 23 batches from Japan, accounting for about two-thirds of all denied alcohol imports that month.
The rejected shipments included a Dewazakura sake and beers from major brands such as Suntory, Kirin, Asahi and Sapporo, totalling about 2,420 kilograms.
Compared with December 2025, the number of Japanese alcohol shipments denied entry jumped 283% month-on-month, customs data showed.
Most of the shipments were imported by Xiamen Xinzun Import & Export Co., with customs citing failure to provide required certificates or compliance documentation as the reason for rejection.
Rising tensions between China and Japan
The surge in rejected shipments comes as relations between China and Japan have grown increasingly strained in recent months.
One flashpoint came last year after remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which Beijing viewed as departing from the cautious language used by previous Japanese governments.
Since then, tensions over issues including Taiwan, maritime law enforcement and regional security policies have added to diplomatic friction between the two countries.
China has already taken measures affecting the tourism sector. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan recently advised Chinese citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Japan, while several China–Japan flight routes have been cancelled.
Official data show that Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan fell 61% year-on-year in January 2026, after already declining 45% in December.
Industry sees possible link
Against this backdrop, the spike in rejected shipments of Japanese alcohol has raised questions about whether stricter inspections could also be linked to deteriorating bilateral relations.
The head of a beverage import supply chain company in China, who requested anonymity, told Vino Joy News the possibility cannot be ruled out.
“In the past, Australian wine also faced stricter import inspections when political disputes arose between the two countries,” the importer said. “Although such cause-and-effect relationships are rarely stated openly, people in the industry often make that connection.”
However, the importer noted that shipments rejected for documentation issues are typically not destroyed or permanently returned.
“If the problem is related to paperwork, importers can usually supplement or correct the documents, or have the producer provide the missing materials, and then resubmit the shipment for customs clearance,” he said.
“These companies may simply lack experience with alcohol import procedures,” he added. “Even if inspections on Japanese alcohol are stricter now, as long as the products and documents comply with regulations, imports can still proceed normally. As far as I know, Japanese alcohol overall can still clear customs.”
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