Discharge of Contaminated Water Done, but What Will China Do... Anxious Kishida Administration

Asahi "Growing Anxiety Over Deteriorating China-Japan Relations"
Criticism from Within the LDP: "The Government Was at Fault"

As relations between China and Japan deteriorate day by day due to the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, concerns are reportedly growing within the Kishida Fumio administration that the situation will prolong.

On the 1st, the Asahi Shimbun reported that the Kishida administration is unsettled by China's continued tough response following the ocean discharge of contaminated water. In particular, Asahi noted that the seafood import ban imposed by China immediately after the discharge decision on the 24th of last month dealt a significant blow. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Nomura Tetsuro and others reacted by saying that China's measures were "an entirely unexpected problem."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) attempted to shift the situation once on the 28th of last month when Komeito, the coalition partner maintaining a pro-China stance, sent its leader Yamaguchi Natsuo to visit China. However, this hope was dashed as China refused Yamaguchi's visit.

Since then, hardliners within the LDP advocating for filing a complaint against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the import ban have gained influence. However, the government maintains a cautious stance, believing that filing a complaint would further strain China-Japan relations.

For now, the Japanese government plans to continue attempting dialogue with China, taking advantage of upcoming international events such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Twenty (G20) meetings starting early this month. Additionally, with the United States and Australia effectively supporting Japan's discharge of contaminated water through official statements, and some European countries lifting their import bans, Japan aims to broaden international support. A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told Asahi, "We need to understand changes in China and find clues for dialogue."

However, even within the ruling party, there is skepticism about whether the government's strategy will be effective. Asahi reported, "Opinions that the outlook for China-Japan relations will become more difficult are increasing within the LDP." A source from the Prime Minister's Office pointed out, "China's response has already shifted beyond a level of protest against contaminated water to economic intimidation." A senior member of the House of Councillors, speaking anonymously, criticized, "The government misread China's reaction and ended up giving them a target to attack."

Amid these external difficulties, an incident occurred domestically where the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister apologized for referring to the officially termed "treated water" as "contaminated water."

The Japanese government officially calls the discharged contaminated water "treated water" because it has passed through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). However, Minister Nomura's comment during a press back briefing that "information was exchanged regarding post-discharge evaluation of contaminated water" sparked criticism that government officials had acknowledged the water as contaminated. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio immediately expressed regret, ordered a full apology and retraction of the remarks, and himself withdrew the statement, admitting it was a slip of the tongue. This series of missteps came amid internal criticism that the government's response was already inadequate.

As the situation escalates into internal conflict within the LDP, China-Japan relations remain without a breakthrough. On the 28th, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Wu Jianghao, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, regarding spam calls from China and the import ban. In response, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, countered that the situation arose due to Japan's wrongful actions, indicating that tensions between the diplomatic authorities are escalating beyond conflict into a dispute.