Kishida Expresses "Regret" Over Spread of Anti-Japanese Sentiment in China

Revealing Position on Chinese Protest and Abusive Calls Over Contaminated Water Ocean Discharge
"Protective Measures for Fisheries Following China's Trade Ban to Be Announced This Week"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed regret over anti-Japanese actions by Chinese people surrounding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to NHK and others on the 28th, Prime Minister Kishida responded to questions from reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, saying, "I cannot help but express regret" regarding the anti-Japanese actions such as Chinese people throwing stones at local Japanese schools or making protest calls to Japan. He also pointed out, "We have repeatedly requested scientific exchanges of opinions among experts with the Chinese side, but regrettably, such opportunities have not been arranged, and unfortunate incidents are occurring."

Following Japan's discharge of contaminated water, public facilities in Fukushima City and Edogawa Ward in Tokyo have been flooded with protest calls from China. The Japanese side claimed that Chinese people disrupted operations by making abusive calls in protest against Japan's contaminated water discharge. On the 24th, there was an incident where a Chinese person threw stones at a Japanese school located in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. On the 25th, several eggs were thrown at a Japanese school in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and protest calls regarding the contaminated water discharge were made to a Japanese school in Shanghai. Near the Japanese Consulate General in Qingdao, graffiti containing words expressing contempt for Japanese people was also confirmed.

Prime Minister Kishida also announced that, in response to China’s complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood following the contaminated water discharge, measures to protect fisheries operators will be announced within this week. Through this occasion, the government plans to organize and explain the specific contents of support measures.