Japan and China Resolve Dispute Over Fukushima Wastewater Release

China agrees to gradually lift seafood import ban as Japan commits to expanded international monitoring of treated radioactive water.

Japan began discharging treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on August 24, 2023, leading to China's ban on Japanese seafood imports.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the agreement, which includes China's participation in enhanced monitoring of the wastewater discharges under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) framework.
China will gradually ease its import ban on Japanese seafood, contingent on ongoing scientific monitoring and compliance with safety standards.
The agreement aims to address both political and scientific concerns, with Japan emphasizing the proven safety of the water discharges.
Japanese officials hope this development will prompt other regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Russia, to lift their bans on Japanese aquatic products.