China's abrupt halt to accepting import applications for Japanese seafood on Wednesday (November 19) has inevitably drawn comparisons to the recent escalation of tensions between the two countries. According to several Japanese officials, China did not formally announce a ban, but rather cited "incomplete radiation inspections" as the reason for refusing to accept applications. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning subsequently commented on the matter.
comprehensive"Nikkei"versus"Sankei ShimbunAccording to the report, China told Japan on the morning of the 19th that "Japan's radiation testing and technical data are insufficient, therefore the relevant import procedures have been suspended."
It is worth noting that Japanese seafood exports to China only resumed in early November; the first batch of 6 tons of frozen scallops from Hokkaido resumed on the 5th of this month after a two-year hiatus, but the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse in less than half a month. Officials from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries admitted that if China determines the inspection was incomplete, it would effectively mean that exports would be impossible.
On the same day, Mao Ning stated that "Japan has not provided the technical information it had previously promised." He also mentioned that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks in the Diet about "what if something happens to Taiwan" have aroused strong resentment among the Chinese people. He bluntly stated that "under such circumstances, even if Japanese seafood is exported, there will be no market for it."
Furthermore, Japanese government officials revealed that China requires Japanese aquaculture, processing, and packaging facilities for exported seafood to be registered, but China has stopped accepting new registrations, preventing most Japanese manufacturers from exporting. The Chinese and Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs are currently negotiating the technical details.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara responded that evening, stating, "We have not received any formal notification from China regarding a suspension of imports," and pledged to expedite the re-registration of the relevant facilities to ensure a smooth export process. It is understood that 697 facilities in Japan have applied, but only three are currently authorized to export to China, raising questions about the review standards.
The incident sparked a unified call from both the ruling and opposition parties in Japan for the government to handle the situation calmly. Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Takayuki Kobayashi stated that dialogue would be used to maintain stable Japan-China relations; the Japan Restoration Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party for the People also emphasized that the government should handle the matter diplomatically with caution and demand a reasonable explanation from China. The Komeito Party called on both sides to remain calm, while the Social Democratic Party criticized Sanae Takaichi's remarks, saying they caused economic damage.
Amidst heightened tensions between the two countries, China has also postponed several exchange activities with Japan, including local exchange programs, cruise ship arrivals, and the originally scheduled resumption of direct flights, further straining relations between the two sides.
