The US military stationed in Japan has taken a strategic step by bulk purchasing Japanese seafood, responding to China’s recent import ban, which was triggered by the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The move has been described as a part of China’s “economic wars” by the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, who hinted at potential further measures to counter China’s actions.
The Chinese import ban, which was imposed due to safety concerns, has had a substantial impact on Japan’s seafood exports, with China being the largest market for Japanese seafood. In 2022, Japan exported over 100,000 tons of scallops to China, a trade that has been significantly disrupted.
Under the US initiative, the first purchase consists of just under a metric ton of shellfish, although it marks the beginning of a long-term contract that will eventually encompass various types of seafood. The purchased seafood will serve the dual purpose of feeding US military personnel and being made available for sale in shops and restaurants on military bases in Japan.
Mr. Emanuel explained, “It’s going to be a long-term contract between the US armed forces and the fisheries and co-ops here,” emphasizing the commitment to support Japan’s seafood industry.
He further noted that the approach to counter China’s economic coercion is to extend aid and assistance to the targeted country or industry, highlighting the potential for this seafood initiative to have broader implications.
This move signifies a shift, as the US military had not previously engaged in direct seafood purchases in Japan. Furthermore, Washington is considering its fish imports from both Japan and China, indicating the US’s broader interest in addressing the impact of China’s import ban.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, responded to Mr. Emanuel’s comments, asserting that diplomats should promote friendship between countries rather than engage in negative rhetoric. This development comes as top US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have engaged in efforts to ease tensions between the United States and China.
The controversy surrounding the Fukushima nuclear plant’s treated waste water, of which more than a million tonnes have accumulated, has persisted despite Japan’s assurances of safety and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog’s approval of the plan. Japan has stressed that similar releases of waste water are common from other nuclear power plants in China and France, with regular reports showing no detectable levels of radioactivity in the seawater near Fukushima.
In a related development, trade ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) recently called for the immediate repeal of bans on Japanese food, highlighting the international concern over the disruption of Japanese food exports.
-BBC-
Join our WhatsApp / Telegram groups below.
