In the military and political context of the East Asian region, it is a controversial decision: Japan's announcement that it would release the treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. This decision has not only caused widespread concern in the international community, but has also directly affected Japan's relations with its neighbors. In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plant was hit hard by a tsunami that caused a serious nuclear accident. In the years that followed, Japan** and TEPCO worked on the aftermath of the accident, including the treatment of large quantities of contaminated water. Purified nuclear wastewater, also known as "treated water", still contains a certain amount of radioactive material, and the core of the controversy is whether these substances pose an impact on the environment and human health.
After Japan** announced its decision to discharge nuclear wastewater, China** reacted quickly and decided to stop importing Japanese aquatic products. This initiative was quickly implemented, and Japan's fishery industry was hit hard. As a countermeasure to Japan's actions, China's decision demonstrates the protection of national interests and respect for international rules. Japan** expressed dissatisfaction and opposition to this, accusing China's measures of having no scientific basis and discriminatory treatment of Japanese aquatic products. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has repeatedly expressed his willingness to demand that China lift the import ban through diplomatic channels. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted a written statement to the World Organization in an effort to prove the safety of its discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, and does not rule out the possibility of settling disputes through WTO appeals.
In its initial market development plans, Japan chose South Korea as its preferred destination for seafood exports, and hopes to expand its market to other regions such as the European Union in the future. At the same time, Japan is also planning to build a new ** chain to transport scallops to Thailand for processing and then export to the U.S. market. However, this plan in Japan did not go as smoothly as expected. When South Korea learned of Japan's plan, it immediately stated that it would continue to maintain the ban on the import of aquatic products from eight prefectures near Fukushima. For seafood from other parts of Japan, South Korea also requires strict inspections, and any discovery of trace amounts of radioactive elements will result in import rejection.
The court in South Korea ruled on the issue of "** and demanded that Japan** pay compensation, and although Japan** did not appeal, it also refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the Korean court. In addition, South Korea is interested in joining the G7 in the hope of improving its position on the international stage, but Japan opposes this wish, fearing that it will weaken its influence in Asia. Under the strategic layout of the United States, although the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea have met with the intention of building a united front to counterbalance the growing forces of China and Russia, the historical issues and differences in China policy between Japan and South Korea have made it difficult for this "iron triangle" to truly take shape. In its China policy, South Korea pursues peace and reunification on the peninsula and does not want to be an enemy of China.
In this entanglement involving the environment, the economy, history, and international relations, we can see the complexity and subtlety of the interaction between states. China's decision-making demonstrates a strong commitment to the health of its citizens and its citizens, as well as respect for international rules. For Japan, this incident could be an opportunity to reassess its relations with its neighbours, particularly with China and South Korea, and to recognize that the pursuit of development must take into account the legitimate concerns of its neighbours, as well as its responsibilities and roles in the international community. As for South Korea, its stance on Japan-South Korea relations reflects the memory of history, respect for international law, and the pursuit of regional stability.
All countries need to find a balance based on mutual respect and work together to build and maintain a healthy, stable and prosperous international community.