The U.S. representative visits Fukushima to consume fish and express disapproval of China’s prohibition on seafood due to the discharge of wastewater.
The U.S. ambassador to Japan made a trip to a city in Fukushima on Thursday. During the visit, they had a seafood lunch with the mayor, engaged in conversations with fishermen, and purchased local produce. The purpose was to demonstrate that these products are safe following the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. Additionally, the ambassador supported Japan’s stance while expressing disapproval of China’s political decision to prohibit Japanese seafood.
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel ate flounder and sea bass sashimi with Soma Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya, talked with local fishermen, and visited a grocery store where he sampled fruits and bought peaches, figs, grapes, flounder, sea bass and other produce from Fukushima prefecture.
Emanuel mentioned during a phone interview from his train journey back to Tokyo that he intends to enjoy all of his purchases when his children come to visit him this weekend. He emphasized that as a father, he would not serve anything if he believed there was a problem with it.
Last week marked the commencement of the discharge of the processed wastewater, which is anticipated to persist for many years. Japanese fishing associations and nearby nations express their opposition to this action, leading China to promptly impose a ban on all imports of Japanese seafood.
Emanuel commended Japan’s water release plan, stating that it was grounded in scientific evidence and characterized by complete transparency. He emphasized that this approach was completely different from China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The ban imposed by China is of a political nature,” he stated. According to Emanuel, the lifting of the ban is contingent upon China’s willingness to act as a cooperative neighbor.
Since the Fukushima plant was hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the cooling systems were destroyed, resulting in meltdowns in three reactors. As a consequence, a significant amount of radioactive wastewater has been collected at the site. Currently, around 1.34 million tons of water is stored in approximately 1,000 tanks. The volume of this stored water continues to increase due to leaks and the necessity of using cooling water.
The government and the operator of the plant claim that releasing the water into the ocean is inevitable due to the storage tanks nearing their maximum capacity in the coming year. Additionally, they argue that space at the plant will be required for the lengthy decommissioning process, which is estimated to span several decades.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan visited Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market to evaluate the consequences of China’s prohibition on Japanese seafood. During his visit, he interacted with workers and also had the opportunity to taste some seafood.
A seafood business operator informed Kishida that the sales of his scallops, primarily exported to China, have decreased by 90% following the initiation of the wastewater discharge.
Kishida informed journalists that he directed officials to create a set of assistance measures for seafood exporters affected by China’s import prohibition. These measures include promoting local consumption and finding alternative markets for Japanese seafood in place of China.
Kishida expressed the need for China to take actions in accordance with scientific evidence, with patience and determination.
The government has set aside 80 billion yen ($550 million) to assist the fishing and seafood processing sectors and prevent any harm to the reputation of Japanese products. Kishida stated that the government is committed to safeguarding the fisheries industry through the use of this fund and other potential financial actions.
China increased its testing of Japanese fisheries products, resulting in significant delays at customs, even prior to the commencement of the wastewater release and the subsequent Chinese import ban. Officials from the Japanese Fisheries Agency have acknowledged that this action has impacted the prices and sales of seafood not only from Fukushima but also from regions as distant as Hokkaido.
Officials and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, state that the seawater and fish sampling data collected since the incident have consistently remained well below the established safety thresholds for radioactivity.
On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea went to a fish market in Seoul and enjoyed seafood for his lunch. This visit aimed to alleviate public worries regarding the safety of local fishery products following Japan’s wastewater release. It is part of South Korea’s efforts to enhance a trilateral strategic partnership with Japan and the United States in response to an increasing regional threat from China.
On Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno suggested the option of bringing the matter to the World Trade Organization, while Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized the significance of engaging in dialogue.
The tourism sector has been affected by China’s prohibition on Japanese seafood. Tetsuo Saito, the Minister of Transport and Tourism, has observed an increase in cancellations of Chinese group tours and a rise in concerns regarding food safety in Japan.
In the meantime, Kishida instructed Minister Tetsuro Nomura from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries to offer an apology for referring to the treated radioactive water as “contaminated,” a term also used by China.
Nomura employed the phrase during a conversation with journalists following a meeting with Kishida and other government officials to address measures for supporting fisheries. He expressed remorse and withdrew the statement, which Kishida deemed as “highly unfortunate.”
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This report received contributions from Hyung-jin Kim, a writer from the Associated Press based in Seoul, South Korea.
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Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
