China to ‘gradually’ lift ban on Japanese seafood imports

The decision comes a year after the restrictions were imposed over the release of waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant

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China says it will allow imports of Japanese seafood to resume, just over a year after a ban was imposed. Photo: Jiji Press

William Zhengin Hong KongandZhuang Pinghuiin Beijing

Published: 3:00pm, 20 Sep 2024Updated: 7:04pm, 20 Sep 2024

China has agreed to “gradually resume” imports of Japanese seafood a year after it banned the products in response to the release of treated waste water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The decision was made after “rounds of talks” between Beijing and Tokyo over the impact of discharging the waste water into the Pacific Ocean, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday afternoon.

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China to ‘gradually’ lift ban on Japanese seafood imports, but still opposes Fukushima discharge

The announcement is a rare moment of agreement between the two Asian powers whose relationship has been troubled by a long list of contentious issues, from wartime grievances and territorial disputes, to Japanese export limits on semiconductors and Tokyo’s deepening geopolitical and military alignment with the United States.

In its announcement, the ministry said China would take part in “long-term international monitoring under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency” (IAEA) and “gradually resume imports of Japanese aquatic products that meet” regulatory standards.

It said Japan had also committed to “earnestly fulfil its obligations under international law”, making every effort to avoid harm to people and the environment. In addition, Japan had agreed to continue to carry out marine environmental impact assessments.

The ministry said Japan “welcomes” the establishment of long-term international monitoring of the plant’s discharges under the IAEA.