Lesson from China's Seafood Ban: Diversify Trade Markets
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China's May 30 move to end its unjust embargo on Japanese seafood exports was only natural. After all, in September 2024, it had already promised to steadily revive Japanese seafood imports. Eight months later, the two sides have just reached an agreement on initiating the process to lift the import ban.
However, rather than taking that promise at face value, we need to pay close attention to the Chinese government's tardiness and inadequacy of response.
China imposed a blanket ban on all Japanese seafood imports following the release of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. On that basis, the agreement represents a key step for Japan's fishing industry, which has been battered by China's ban.
China was a major export market for Japanese scallops and sea cucumbers before the ban. Hopes that exports would soon resume are therefore growing.
However, has China's stance toward Japan really changed? The resumption of imports will apply to 37 prefectures. But that list does not include Fukushima, Ibaraki, and eight other prefectures where China had imposed restrictions on imports soon after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster.
Also, registration procedures for Japanese export businesses are just beginning on the Chinese side. Therefore, it will likely be several months before actual exports to China can resume. Moreover, since China often delays customs procedures for political reasons, caution is required. A cabinet meeting aimed at expanding exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and other food was held at the Prime Minister's Office on May 30.
The Shigeru Ishiba administration should take a proactive stance to ensure that China swiftly and steadily honors its promises. It must continue to press for the immediate abolition of the restrictions on exports from the remaining 10 prefectures.
China requires inspections for radioactive substances and certificates of origin for all products it imports from Japan. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Japan had committed to meeting China's regulatory and food safety standards and the criteria of Chinese supervisory authorities.
Nevertheless, China's claim that the treated water is "radioactive contaminated water" is a false accusation to begin with. It is merely intended to deceive the public with absolutely no scientific basis.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other organizations have vouched for the safety of releasing the ALPS treated water. Chinese fishing vessels also continued to fish in Japan's coastal waters. It is perfectly clear that Beijing's argument that the embargo is justified due to "public anxiety" is hollow. For a decade after the Fukushima Daiichi accident, fishermen in the region suffered restrictions on import of their products.
China may be eager to present the image of a conciliatory attitude toward Japan. Nevertheless, that is merely to counter pressure from the Trump administration. Moreover, even if China takes baby steps towards reconciling with Japan, we must remain vigilant. After all, no progress has been made on issues such as the detention of Japanese nationals in China and intrusions by Chinese vessels into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands.
Japan began to explore new export destinations for its marine products after China imposed its trade embargo. Even if exports resume, the political risks related to China will not decrease. The seafood industry should continue and intensify its efforts to diversify its export markets.
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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