China’s decision to suspend ferry services between Shanghai, Kobe and Osaka has drawn renewed attention across the region.
The ferry route had only resumed operations in June after being halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japanese officials were not given a detailed public explanation for the sudden suspension.
The move revived memories of earlier disruptions linked to China’s handling of cross-border travel.
Observers recalled the Diamond Princess cruise ship arriving in Yokohama in January 2020 carrying infected passengers.
That vessel had previously made port calls in China before reaching Japan.
The incident became one of the earliest symbols of how quickly the virus spread across borders.
Japan officially confirmed its first COVID-19 case in mid-January 2020.
However, infections were already present weeks earlier, according to later assessments.
Early cases suggest transmission was occurring as early as December of the previous year.
The ferry suspension has reignited debate over China’s unilateral policy decisions.