2023-07-22 12:38:42
China, Tiananmen Square
After China, which opposes the release of treated water from Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea, has begun comprehensive inspections for radioactive substances in Japanese marine products, there is a growing movement among Japanese companies to voluntarily restrict exports. The Chinese government has emphasized the dangers of Japanese marine products domestically and is increasing diplomatic pressure on Japan, which is likely to have a long-lasting impact. (Beijing, Baishan spring)
◆ Freshness cannot be maintained by inspection of all products
“There are concerns that the freshness of marine products will decline, and Japanese companies have stopped exporting them to China since around the 17th,” he said. A person involved in a Japanese food-related company revealed with a bitter expression.
According to people involved, from around the 10th of this month, major customs offices in Shanghai, Dalian, and other places began conducting all-item inspections of Japanese marine products. It is said that the Chinese authorities have verbally notified the dealers that customs clearance will take from 10 days to about a month. The quality of refrigerated goods cannot be maintained and cannot be sold even after customs clearance, so Japanese companies have no choice but to refrain from exporting to China.
“It’s become a political issue, so it’s difficult to resume exports until the situation is clear,” said the official.
China’s state-owned media will carry out propaganda campaigns highlighting the environmental impact of discharging treated water into the ocean. China Central Television (CCTV) reports daily that South Korean parliamentarians and others oppose the discharge into the ocean. In a fishing village in Peru on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, local residents complained, “I’m worried because Japan is pouring contaminated water at us.”
The Chinese authorities will not back down
On exchange sites (SNS), articles and videos that raise concerns about Japanese food products stand out.
In recent years, Japanese food has become more popular in China, and there are many high-end Japanese restaurants where course meals cost more than 100,000 yen. However, assuming that it will be difficult to obtain Japanese marine products for a long time, Japanese restaurants are under pressure to find alternatives. A Japanese owner of a Japanese restaurant in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, said, “We’ve been asked about the origin of our fish, so we’ve reduced our sashimi menu. We’ve switched to using fresh fish from China, but it has a strong smell and takes time to process.”
On the other hand, another person involved in the food industry analyzed, “Chinese traders bought Japanese seafood at the asking price. This was a factor in the rise in seafood prices, but if this situation continues, prices in Japan will fall.”
At a press conference on the 20th, Deputy Spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning said, “The Chinese government is responsible for the health of the people and the marine environment.” The Japanese government also rejected a comprehensive report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which the Japanese government cites as one of the grounds for its safety, saying that it “cannot prove the legitimacy or legality of the discharge into the ocean.”
Regarding China’s hardline stance, Chinese media officials point out that “there is a lack of political trust between Japan and China.” The Chinese government is rebelling against Japan over issues such as the Taiwan issue and export restrictions in the field of semiconductors, and is believed to be using these issues to increase diplomatic pressure. It seems that there is also an intention to damage Japan’s international image. On the other hand, a Japanese-Chinese diplomatic source warns, “The more China makes it a diplomatic issue, the further it will go from joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which aims for a free and fair trade environment.”
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