China to gradually resume seafood imports from Japan after Fukushima ban

which branded it "selfish" and banned all Japanese seafood imports.

With all the fish caught by Chinese fishing corporations all around the planet, they must catch a lot of fish. Maybe the Chinese should learn the techniques Japanese fishermen and fish processors use to make the fish caught by Chinese be as high quality as that caught and processed by Japanese.

China is purely playing politics by imposing regulations on importing Japanese fish. Japan should take China to the International Court of Justice if they do not resume buying Japanese seafood immediately.

I'd be much more worried about eating Chinese seafood than that from Japan.

Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday cited a top sanitary official as saying Moscow would maintain the embargo.

LOL. Japan has no intention of selling seafood to fascist Russia anyway. There is a trade sanction against Russia, so their "embargo" is just for political show.

What? lol Next thing you know you will be telling Japan to take the USA to court because Americans don't eat enough natto.

China is purely playing politics by imposing regulations on importing Japanese fish. Japan should take China to the International Court of Justice if they do not resume buying Japanese seafood immediately.

should we say it again or no?

okay, let’s say it again. china releases more water with higher concentrations of radioactive elements off its own coastline from its own reactors than being released from fukushima.

all reactors of this type do in korea, the uk, the u.s., etc.

Good news for Fukushima fishermen and women, glad to see things are beginning to return to normal.

China is purely playing politics by imposing regulations on importing Japanese fish.

Unfortunately, Japan is caught between the economic war between the U.S. and China. China called for third-party monitoring in Fukushima, which is fair. Japan has acquiesced so there seems to be progress.

That said, Japan can’t really complain about China fighting back with restrictions if Japan participates in the economic war, can she?

On the chips sanctions front, the revenues of Tokyo Electron that come from the sale of chips to China is close to 50% (47%) yet Japan will ban the export of chips to China due to sanctions imposed by Washington.

The U.S. can tell ASML or Tokyo Electron to sever its ties with China, and they’ll just obey. It’s unbelievable, like playing the American teacher’s game of Simon Says: Circle up! Time to put your things away…Simon says clean up! The Chinese just don’t respect countries that have lost their spine.

What happened to the Japan That Can Say No? That was back in the days of the US Japan trade war and the Sony Chairman and the Governor of Tokyo. Can’t say no to the US on the chips ban and lose your revenue. Any compensation or subsidies from the US?

Can’t say no to China is the updated Japanese essays I’m reading now. Any compensation from China for the lost revenue for the fishermen or are you just going to make Japanese citizens foot the bill?

Japan is weak and needs to find its dignity. Japan needs a strong prime minister who will not kowtow 磕頭 to any country, US or China.

It’s the reciprocity of fish & chips. Ban your chips. We ban your fish.

Japan imports ship loads of Russian seafood. Crab season is just around the corner.

Cha-ching!

Perhaps Japan should refuse to sell any seafood directly to China? Sell only to Taiwan with an agreement that there be at least a 30% markup for all sales to the mainland. Get China to pay for Taiwan's military needs.

Decoupling from China is hard, especially for countries closest, but until the CCP learns "win-win" negotiations, it isn't a good idea.

Right thing to do after murdering a 10 year old. Dirty business and vicious crime. All political.

This has nothing to do with the safety of Japan’s seafood exports.

 The Chinese just don’t respect countries that have lost their spine.

China teaching others about respect!

Ha, ha,! That's a good one!

It's more like "How to lose respect."

According to the NHK news last night, the Japanese Fishing Industry have learnt not to put all their eggs in one basket. The China Ban has left them with a sour taste and they have found new overseas markets. One company official stated that his company was now more focused on their new customers and would reconsider at a later date in regards to returning to the China market.

This seems like a more ethical path for China than attacking Philippine fisherman in Philippine waters. A step in the right direction.

Good for Japan, and good for China..

I'd be much more worried about eating Chinese seafood than that from Japan.

Ooohh!!!!...

https://giphy.com/gifs/queen-dramatic-dramatique-2V3Hd66owOKJl2OYzD

LOL

This seems like a more ethical path for China than attacking Philippine fisherman in Philippine waters. A step in the right direction.

It was not an attack. The Philippines coast guard vessel had been occupying China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. 

China blocked supplies of food, water, fuel to generate heat etc and deployed 44 ships of all kinds to encircle what is referred to as PH9701.

The Filipinos tried to use coast guards, speed boats, fishing boats, drones and helicopters to resupply but to no avail.

USA did not lift a finger to help the Philippines resupply. The Filipinos have since keft Xianbin Reef. Another failed attempt by the U.S. to stir up trouble.

For the dictatorship of China, trade is just another means to wage a protracted historic belligerence, to enforce its toxic political will over the entire region.

Natural disasters weaponised to harm Japan fisheries, to compel the people of Japan to behave obsequiously.

Never give in to the bullying tyrant...

Show resolve. I always buy my fish, seafood from local fishmongers.

About time too. There was zero scientific basis for this ban, so it clearly violated WTO rules.

But Japan must continue to diversify its exports (in all areas) as there will be a next time for such economic coercion. China just can't help reminding the world why it can't be trusted.

quercetumToday 08:08 am JST

Unfortunately, Japan is caught between the economic war between the U.S. and China. China called for third-party monitoring in Fukushima, which is fair.

There already was third party monitoring - by the IAEA, which includes Chinese experts. And Japan invited China to a monitoring framework around a year ago, which it refused, undoubtedly as it wanted to drag the process out and inflict more pain.

Many other countries were happy with the monitoring. But China wanted to play its usual economic coercion game. The ban was 100% political, and nothing to do with safety.

That said, Japan can’t really complain about China fighting back with restrictions if Japan participates in the economic war, can she?

It’s the reciprocity of fish & chips. Ban your chips. We ban your fish.

It's not "reciprocity," as there's a huge difference between national security and fish.

National security-related restrictions (chips) are allowed under WTO rules. Seafood bans aren't, unless for reason of safety, and there was zero scientific basis for such a ban. Furthermore, China's own plants release a lot worse.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/d7a70def8245-chinas-nuclear-plants-released-tritium-above-fukushima-level-in-2022.html

It said Japan had committed to "fulfilling its obligations under international law, doing its utmost to avoid leaving (a) negative impact on human health and the environment, and conducting continuous evaluations of the impact on the marine environment and marine ecosystems".

Sounds good, let's see if Japan delivers

The CCP has released 10+ more contaminated water in to to the sea than Japan, and I doubt if they even have plants to clean up and the water before they do do so, I mean that woud cost the wonderful CCP millions of yuan. And I bet this is good news for the majority of Chinese people, knowing that their fish will not now be full of nuclear waste water.

This is hilarious.

People losing their minds that Japan agreed to third party monitoring

Japan is not compelled to stop the discharge people.

They just agreed to more strict monitoring.

It's better for everyone especially to Japan

Good to see also more objective reporting

Peter Neil

Today 07:56 am JST

should we say it again or no?

> okay, let’s say it again. china releases more water with higher concentrations of radioactive elements off its own coastline from its own reactors than being released from fukushima.

> all reactors of this type do in korea, the uk, the u.s., etc

Higher concentrations may or may not be true, nevertheless means no reactor at all should be discharging wastewater to the seas

Japan agreed to an independent sampling and testing of Fukushima sea water by China to reach this agreement. So we will soon find out the true status of the radioactivity of Fukushima water.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-japan-end-dispute-fukushima-water-discharge-rcna171950

The two sides agreed on Japan establishing a long-term international monitoring arrangement and allowing stakeholders to conduct independent sampling and monitoring, the ministry said in a statement.

Samit Basu

Today 12:52 pm JST

Japan agreed to an independent sampling and testing of Fukushima sea water by China to reach this agreement. So we will soon find out the true status of the radioactivity of Fukushima water.

> https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-japan-end-dispute-fukushima-water-discharge-rcna171950

> The two sides agreed on Japan establishing a long-term international monitoring arrangement and allowing stakeholders to conduct independent sampling and monitoring, the ministry said in a statement.

I don't think it's limited to fukushima seawater.

Far more important to test before dumping.

Could be wrong of course

Citation needed.

so it clearly violated WTO rules.

China levered its huge market so independent scientists can ensure the safety of Fukushima radiative water which we believe today will be flowing out to the Pacific Ocean for decades. All neighboring countries with safety concerns benefit.

@Data

What difference to the previous sixteen independent samplings will the seventeenth independent sampling show? 

There never was an independent sampling before. All sampling was done by Japan and provided to IAEA, making the numbers suspect and untrustworthy.

There was a reason why Japan resisted independent sampling until now, basically arm twisted to do so.

Watch with great cautious. The Japanese government is not honest, they could provided some bribery or benefits to the IAEA glorifying their exports. Money is their matter!

There was a reason why Japan resisted independent sampling until now

Dont believes a single word from the IAEA report. They taken money or under US pressure as well. Only independent examination from Chinese her own team and sample gathering !

Yes, the same IAEA whose main mission is to promote the use of nuclear power.

That is incorrect. The sampling was done by IAEA

It was not an attack. The Philippines coast guard vessel had been occupying China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. 

There are literally videos showing China attacking these ships in Philippine territorial waters. Stop spreading misinformation, it just makes you look silly considering everyone has seen the videos and location was verified at being within h Philippine territorial waters.

quercetumToday 10:53 am JST

This seems like a more ethical path for China than attacking Philippine fisherman in Philippine waters. A step in the right direction.

It was not an attack. The Philippines coast guard vessel had been occupying China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. 

China blocked supplies of food, water, fuel to generate heat etc and deployed 44 ships of all kinds to encircle what is referred to as PH9701.

The Filipinos tried to use coast guards, speed boats, fishing boats, drones and helicopters to resupply but to no avail.

USA did not lift a finger to help the Philippines resupply. The Filipinos have since keft Xianbin Reef. Another failed attempt by the U.S. to stir up trouble.

Don't attempt to justify China's criminal actions in international waters. The only reason the US wasn't there ramming back is because the Philippines doesn't ask them.

Funny, I did not use the word 'military' at all.

Bureaucracy's nature is to protect itself and seek to expand budget and influence. You choose to trust IAEA. I choose to be somewhat skeptical and therefore welcome other forms of verification.

Nibek32

Today 01:40 pm JST

It was not an attack. The Philippines coast guard vessel had been occupying China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months.

> There are literally videos showing China attacking these ships in Philippine territorial waters. Stop spreading misinformation, it just makes you look silly considering everyone has seen the videos and location was verified at being within h Philippine territorial waters

Whatever you want to call it, it didn't happen in Philippine territorial waters.

If it happens in territorial waters that should be enough to trigger the defense treaty with the US

Data, why would you be so opposed to additional independent testing? It seems, well, illogical.

Th e Philippines already asked the US before during the Obama administration to intervene during the scarborough incident.

The US clarified then under what circumstances it will/can help.

Was this post regarding ' radioactive' fish v edible fish, so I grt my beloved sashimi again, or ad political rhetoric regarding criminals on the sea? Onced called pirates or privateers. PRC gets' seafood and pays for it ,Jpn get's sustainable income. and suddenly defense treaties with colonial countries are being waved around... WHY! too many brainwashing??? Never mind I am a pescie just want to taste the fish again, wash my taste buds, thanks

Incidentally before China entered the equation people were generally against the wastewater dumping (at least it seemed to me). If not in gemeral at least there were far more against the dumping than now.

When China announced the ban I said then that at least tepco and Japan will have many more symphatizers because many will automatically believe them now just because China is against the dumping

Peter Neil+ Ian,

Check your facts, which nation's media did you download from? I am always circumspect, media only releases what their subscribers are willling to pay for.... apologies also out of the scope of the original headline!

deanzaZZRToday 01:01 pm JST

Citation needed.

(I will explain below for the benefit of other readers. I don't expect it to convince deanzaZZR, as we all know they will defend their Emperor regardless of the facts.)

You can't just restrict food imports with no tangible case or evidence and, to my knowledge, China hasn't provided this. But if anyone has any links to specific evidence of safety violations China has presented, I'd be happy to read it. Furthermore:

1) The IAEA has confirmed many times that the release is "consistent with international safety standards" and will have a "negligible radiological impact to people and the environment"

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-finds-japans-plans-to-release-treated-water-into-the-sea-at-fukushima-consistent-with-international-safety-standards

2) Chinese experts are part of the IAEA team, and have been since before the release. They did not oppose it

3) China was invited to a monitoring framework last September (from memory) just like this one, but refused. They could've solved this a year ago but wanted to drag it out

4) Many other countries have either approved, or at least expressed no disapproval of, the plan. It's really only China, and its vassals like Russia and Solomon Islands, that has a problem

5) The release has been ongoing for over a year, and every stage so far has gone to plan

6) As above, China's own plants release far worse things than what comes out of Fukushima Daiichi

deanzaZZRToday 01:01 pm JST

China levered its huge market so independent scientists can ensure the safety of Fukushima radiative water

China leveraged its huge market for the purpose of economic coercion, like always. Independent scientists (including Chinese scientists) have already been ensuring safety for over a year.

Even with these new developments, essentially nothing will change with the overall plan: and that's because it's already safe.

All China has achieved here is to remind the world, yet again, that it cannot be trusted.

With the economic crash in China, most Chinese can’t even afford fish imported from Japan at this point.

ianToday 12:23 pm JST

People losing their minds that Japan agreed to third party monitoring

Third party monitoring has already been ongoing for over a year.

People are angry with China because it is practicing economic coercion. Angry, but not at all surprised.

@isabelle Many words, zero WTO violations listed. I do agree our conversations are becoming unproductive with your reductive simple mimicking of USA Mathew Miller and John Kirby statements.

ianToday 02:18 pm JST

Th e Philippines already asked the US before during the Obama administration to intervene during the scarborough incident.

The US clarified then under what circumstances it will/can help.

This isn't 2016 or whatever. The US can and would blow some pirates out of the water if the Philippines asked them to.

For readers who don't look closely, the AFP article is actually very deceptive (as usual). It downplays the central issue of testing and tries to give the impression that the resumption of imports is a done deal. This was true of most reporting in the Japanese media as well.

TaiwanIsNotChina

Today 03:13 pm JST

ianToday 02:18 pm JST

> Th e Philippines already asked the US before during the Obama administration to intervene during the scarborough incident.

> The US clarified then under what circumstances it will/can help.

> This isn't 2016 or whatever. The US can and would blow some pirates out of the water if the Philippines asked them to.

Well if you think the Philippines had not already asked for help can't really help it.

But glad to know that you know tthe US will go to war if the Philippines asked them to

It's a fair question though

With the economic crash in China, most Chinese can’t even afford fish imported from Japan at this point.

China has already collapsed more than five times according to Western media.

But glad to know that you know tthe US will go to war if the Philippines asked them to

Even the Philippines army don’t want conflict with China. This conflict is over.

On Sep 10, the US Indo-Pacific commander spoke to China’s counterpart from the Southern Theater. The PH CG 9701 has since left Xianbin reef

deanzaZZRToday 03:11 pm JST

@isabelle Many words, zero WTO violations listed

Good God, it's right there in the first sentence: "You can't just restrict food imports with no tangible case or evidence." China hasn't provided this, has ignored the international expert body, and has refused the opportunity to obtain additional information via the monitoring framework for a year.

Again, this will make no difference to someone who is blinded by their devotion to the Emperor, but for the benefit of others, China violates at least these two articles.

...

https://www.worldtradelaw.net/document.php?id=uragreements/spsagreement.pdf&mode=download

ARTICLE 2.2

Members shall ensure that any sanitary or phytosanitary measure is applied only to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health, is based on scientific principles and is not maintained without sufficient scientific evidence, except as provided for in paragraph 7 of Article 5.

ARTICLE 5

[all]

Data, why would you be so opposed to additional independent testing? It seems, well, illogical.

Its due diligence and should not be overlooked. Anybody who trusts TEPCO’s competence is ill suited for lack of knowledge and awareness.

quercetumToday 05:44 pm JST

Its due diligence and should not be overlooked.

If China was unhappy with the IAEA (and, for some reason, thought its Chinese experts were lying), it had the chance to do such "due diligence" via the monitoring framework a year ago. It refused.

The ban is 100% politics, 0% safety, and China wanted to drag it out as long as possible.

(You know this, of course, but are just cheerleading for the CCP, as usual.)

Hahahaha still hasn't occured to the idiots that obviously the proposed third party monitoring proposed by Japan was not acceptable to China so it proposed a monitoring framework of its own that Japan accepted.

Around the same time as Friday's announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tokyo had informed Beijing of "its readiness to carry out additional monitoring of the... treated water, while the Chinese side has decided to... steadily restore imports of Japanese fishery products that meet certain standards".

> The IAEA said in a statement that it would "coordinate with Japan and other stakeholders, including China, to ensure that the additional measures are implemented appropriately... to ensure that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards".

Wonder what these additional measures are

China used the fish imports as a political weapon in defiance of the IAEA despite having been a member since 1984. Japan should ban fish exports to China for a while and lt them get a taste of their own medicine.

We should restart selling to the Chinese but mark up a 10-20% tarriff for all the financial pain they have caused Japanese fishermen. All unnecessary and politcally motivated by China.