Latest news with #JapaneseGovernment
South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's overtures a ‘pointed signal' to stabilise ties with Japan: analysts
China has made a string of subtle yet telling overtures towards Japan in recent weeks – from removing controversial maritime buoys to easing a politically charged seafood import ban – in what observers see as a tactical recalibration rather than a true reset in bilateral ties. On Thursday, Japan 's government confirmed that China had dismantled the second of two oceanographic buoys it had installed without Tokyo's consent within Japan's exclusive economic zone near Okinawa. The following day, it was announced that the two governments had reached an agreement on procedures to resume exports of seafood products from most of Japan to China, 22 months after Beijing imposed a blanket ban on imports in response to Japan starting to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. China also appeared to temper its rhetoric during President Xi Jinping 's summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin earlier this month. A joint statement issued on May 8 emphasised expanded military cooperation, including regular joint air and sea patrols, but omitted a reference to securing 'Northeast Asia' – reportedly at Beijing's request – to avoid provoking Tokyo. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (centre) with farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) during a meeting on Friday on the resumption of seafood exports to China. Photo: Kyodo 'I see this as China sending a pointed signal to Tokyo that it wants to stabilise the relationship, for a couple of reasons,' said Masayuki Masuda, director of Chinese studies at the Ministry of Defence's National Institute for Defence Studies in Tokyo.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China closer to lifting Japanese seafood ban after ‘substantial progress' in talks
China on Friday appeared to move closer to lifting its ban on Japanese seafood imports, with the foreign ministry pledging to 'study' Tokyo's request on the matter. Advertisement The move is another sign that Beijing is trying to reset ties with its East Asian neighbour amid growing US trade uncertainty, according to an expert on China-Japan relations. The Chinese foreign ministry comment came in response to a media query about Japan's claim that the two sides had agreed on technical conditions for the resumption of such shipments. 'Relevant authorities will study Japan's request to resume exports of Japanese aquatic products to China in accordance with the principles of science and safety, domestic regulations and international trade rules,' ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. Hours earlier, Chinese customs confirmed 'substantial progress' in the new round of bilateral 'technical exchanges' over the safety of Japanese seafood held in Beijing on Wednesday, but offered no details. Advertisement According to Lin, Japan pledged during the talks to take 'credible and visible' measures to ensure the safety and quality of its seafood so as to meet China's regulatory standards.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan says China will resume Japanese seafood imports it halted over Fukushima water discharge
Japan says China will resume Japanese seafood imports it banned in 2023 over worries about Japan's discharge of treated but slightly radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. China said Friday that talks this week made 'substantial progress' but did not confirm an agreement on the issue that has been a significant political and diplomatic point of tension for the wary Asian powers.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
China to resume Japanese seafood imports
China imposed a ban on Japanese seafood imports in 2023. (EPA Images pic) TOKYO : China has agreed on procedures to resume imports of Japanese seafood products, Japan's government said today, marking a step towards ending a nearly two-year trade ban. Officials from Japan's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries and China's customs reached the agreement during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding China-bound seafood exports are expected to resume after China takes 'necessary procedures'. The agreement comes as both governments work to ease tensions stemming from the 2023 release of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The Japanese ministry did not specify the details of the procedures. But the Nikkei newspaper, which reported the news earlier, said that under the agreed measures, Japan will register fishery processing facilities with Chinese authorities, and export shipments will include inspection certificates confirming the absence of radioactive substances such as cesium-137. Nikkei added that China is expected to formally announce the resumption of seafood imports from Japanese prefectures outside the Fukushima region in the near future. China imposed the ban on Japanese seafood imports in 2023, shortly after Tokyo began releasing treated wastewater from the disaster-hit plant, prompting a sharp diplomatic and economic backlash. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan to partially lift sanctions on Syria
The Japanese government has decided to partially lift sanctions it had imposed on Syria. In Syria, an interim government is working to rebuild the country after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December last year. The authoritarian rule of the Assad family spanned more than half a century over two generations. The Japanese Cabinet agreed on the move at its meeting on Friday. Four banks will be removed from the list of targets whose assets are frozen. The Syrian interim government has repeatedly asked other countries to lift sanctions to help rebuild the war-torn nation. The European Union has already decided to ease its sanctions in stages. The US government under President Donald Trump has also announced sanctions relief. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters that the decision came after the government studied the matter comprehensively. He said it is based on the view that Japan should support positive efforts in Syria and help improve the lives of its people, who have been worn down by years of crisis, while remaining in step with the international community. He said Japan will continue coordinating with the Group of Seven countries and others in the international community to pursue effective measures for achieving peace and stability in Syria.
