On November 19, we spoke with the head of a seafood processing company in Hokkaido that exports frozen scallops.

S/ Yamazaki Kazuya, President, Maruuroko Sanwa Suisan / Honestly, I wonder if this situation is really happening due to (Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s) remarks. It’s not anger, but something closer to resignation.

What is he resigned about?

The Chinese government announced earlier in the day that it will effectively suspend imports of Japanese seafood.

S/ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson / Prime Minister Takaichi’s incorrect remarks regarding matters including Taiwan have angered the Chinese people. Under these circumstances, even if Japanese seafood is exported to China, there will be no buyers.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson made it clear that the action is a countermeasure to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remarks in parliament concerning a potential Taiwan contingency.

She added that another reason for the move is that the Japanese side has failed to provide technical documentation proving the quality and safety of its seafood.

After Japan began releasing treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to the sea in 2023, China completely halted imports of Japanese seafood.

In June this year, China announced that it will conditionally resume imports from certain regions of Japan.

The Japanese side had just resumed exports of Hokkaido scallops and other products to China earlier in November.

Japanese government officials said the scallops sent to China have not cleared customs yet.

S/ Yamazaki Kazuya, President, Maruuroko Sanwa Suisan / We used to have sales of about 800 million yen just for China. Just as we were making progress, we were told no again. I guess we have to move forward with the mindset that this is the kind of partner we’re dealing with.

We heard similar comments from a seafood processing company in Ehime Prefecture.

An official said the company had just applied to resume exports to China when the current situation arose.