Japan Aims to Mend Seafood Export Ties During China Visit

When Japan’s foreign minister travels to China on Wednesday, seafood commerce is anticipated to be on the agenda. Japan’s greatest export market was for aquatic products before Beijing outlawed them in protest of Tokyo’s discharge of treated radioactive wastewater into the ocean.

Japan’s new foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials on his first trip to the Chinese capital since his take over as Japan’s foreign minister in October.

“I believe it is important to have concrete and tangible examples of future possibilities of Japan-China ties. It is important for both Japan and China to fulfil their responsibilities and move forward together in pursuit of the peace and prosperity of this region and the international community,” Takeshi Iwaya said at the start of the meeting with Wang Yi.

Wang also stated that the importance of the two nation’s connection extended beyond their bilateral relationship. “If China-Japan relations are stable, Asia will be more stable,” Wang said.

Japan’s wastewater release from the Fukushima nuclear facility has been a significant issue of concern in bilateral relations. In reaction to Beijing intensified inspections on Japanese exports and strongly criticized and denounced Tokyo’s move. After Japan started releasing the treated radioactive water last year, China completely banned it. However in September, the two countries came to an agreement that would pave the way for the return of seafood shipments from Japan to China.

China was considering easing the import ban on Japanese seafood according to a story published this week in Japan’s Nikkei daily. However, China continues to want Tokyo to fulfill its promise to establish a long term international monitoring system and permit China and other stakeholders to independently sample and monitor the treated water.

China would “adjust relevant measures” and progressively resume imports that adhere to rules and laws with adequate oversight, a foreign ministry official stated on Tuesday.

Japan’s foreign minister is set to visit China for one day following an agreement to strengthen strategic ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently emphasized partnership over rivalry during talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the APEC forum. While economic ties between the two nations are strong, tensions persist over security, territorial disputes and historical grievances.

The visit may address Japan’s concerns about Chinese military activities and regional issues including North Korea’s alliance with Russia. North Korea has reportedly sent troops and equipment to aid Russia in Ukraine.

China could also push for reciprocity in visa policies having recently expanded visa free travel for Japanese citizens until 2025 with extended stay periods. Japan has yet to announce a reciprocal move but China hopes for improved people to people exchanges.