The impact of deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations on the Japanese economy is becoming apparent. According to Japanese media reports, the fisheries industries in Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture are dissatisfied that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statements regarding Taiwan have led China to suspend imports of Japanese seafood, and are demanding an explanation from the authorities.
Yamazaki Kazuya, a 55-year-old who operates a seafood processing company in Monbetsu City, Hokkaido, said in despair: “What should we do?” In August 2023, after Japan insisted on releasing wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, China completely suspended imports of Japanese seafood. At that time, Yamazaki’s company was forced to adjust its strategy and find ways to increase exports to markets such as the United States. After several rounds of negotiations, the first batch of Japanese seafood exports to China in over two years—about six tons of frozen scallops from Hokkaido—was shipped to China earlier this month.
Originally hopeful that exports to China would gradually resume and prospects looked bright, the situation suddenly took a sharp turn. On November 7th, Sanae Takaichi stated during a parliamentary inquiry that if a contingency arises in Taiwan involving the use of force, it could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" in which Japan could exercise its collective self-defense rights, suggesting that Japan might intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing reacted strongly, taking a series of countermeasures over several days, and on the 19th, once again suspended imports of Japanese seafood.
“It’s troubling that sales channels are impacted by someone’s statements. The government ought to provide an explanation and establish a system through which we can seek advice and assistance," Kyodo News quoted Yamazaki as saying. He expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Japanese government’s handling and, with a resigned look, said, “We can’t just keep waiting for China to resume imports forever.” The head of a scallop processing company in Aomori City expressed unease: “It’s very disappointing. The export route to China is just too unstable.” He added, “All we can do is learn from this and steadily work to diversify our sales channels.”
●Ministry of Commerce: Takaichi’s Statements Stir Public Outrage in China
On the 20th, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yungian said that Sanae Takaichi’s remarks had incited strong public outrage in China and had brought serious negative impacts to bilateral economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. He said the Japanese side cannot expect to harm feelings on one hand and seek benefits on the other.