TOKYO/BEIJING — China knowledgeable Japan on Wednesday that it’s going to ban all imports of Japanese seafood, media retailers reported — a choice which comes amid an escalating diplomatic dispute between Asia’s prime two economies.
Tensions between the 2 nations ignited after new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned this month {that a} Chinese language assault on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival might set off a navy response.
China has demanded she retract the remarks and urged its residents to not journey to Japan, leading to mass cancellations that would deal a large blow to the world’s fourth-largest economic system.
The most recent ache level for Japan comes after Beijing simply months in the past partially eased restrictions on Japanese seafood that had been imposed as a result of Tokyo’s resolution to launch handled wastewater from its Fukushima nuclear energy plant in 2023.
China has instructed Japan that the re-imposition of the ban was because of the want for additional monitoring of the water launch, Kyodo information company reported citing sources.
China’s commerce ministry and customs administration didn’t instantly reply to Reuters requests for remark. Representatives for Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries weren’t instantly out there for remark.
Dealing with a wave of vitriolic responses by a Chinese language diplomat in Japan and Chinese language state media geared toward Takaichi, Japan warned its residents in China on Monday to step up security precautions and keep away from crowded locations.
Tokyo has mentioned Takaichi’s remarks in parliament are consistent with the federal government’s place, suggesting no breakthrough is imminent.
Japan counts the prices
China had mentioned in June that it could resume importing Japanese seafood merchandise from all however 10 of Japan’s 47 prefectures.
The re-imposition will probably be a painful blow for a lot of corporations desirous to re-enter a market that beforehand accounted for greater than a fifth of all Japan’s seafood exports.
Almost 700 Japanese exporters had utilized to re-register for shipments to China, Japanese Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki instructed reporters on Tuesday. Nonetheless, solely three had been authorized up to now.
Earlier than the 2023 ban, China was Japan’s prime scallop purchaser and a significant importer of sea cucumbers.
Extra instantly, China’s journey boycott might have far-reaching penalties for Japan’s shaky economic system.
Tourism accounts for round 7 p.c of Japan’s total gross home product, based on the World Journey & Tourism Council, and has been a significant driver of progress lately. Guests from mainland China and Hong Kong account for round a fifth of all arrivals, official figures present.
Greater than 10 Chinese language airways have supplied refunds on Japan-bound routes till December 31, with one airline analyst estimating that round 500,000 tickets have already been cancelled.
An individual at a state-owned Chinese language financial institution mentioned employees had been informally instructed by managers on Tuesday that requests to journey to Japan wouldn’t be authorized in the meanwhile. The individual declined to be named as a result of sensitivity of the matter.
Tutorial, cultural exchanges cancelled
An annual assembly of students from each nations as a result of begin in Beijing on Saturday has additionally been postponed, China’s overseas ministry mentioned.
An occasion selling Japan–China friendship scheduled for November 21 within the western Japanese metropolis of Hiroshima has additionally been cancelled.
China has suspended the screenings of upcoming Japanese movies, and Japanese celebrities common there have tried to pre-empt any potential backlash with messages displaying their help for China.
“China is like my second homeland to me and all my associates in China are my cherished household — I’ll all the time help One China,” Japanese singer MARiA wrote on Weibo on Tuesday.
