Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak are meeting in Japan with Prime Minister Naoto Kan for a two-day summit. Kan’s goal in the summit is to persuade China and South Korea to lift import restrictions on Japanese food products, which have been in effect since the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant began.
The three leaders visited areas affected by the March 11 quake and tsunami and then sampled local cherries, tomatoes and cucumbers at a gymnasium in Fukushima where evacuees are taking shelter. Wen told reporters the produce was “very delicious.” At a banquet with the leaders in Tokyo later Saturday, Kan said, “I’m sure the visits will be of great help in dispelling misinformation about products in Fukushima and other disaster-hit areas.”
A rally protesting Japan and China's territorial dispute during a visit from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. This protestor apparently used an online translator to make his message understandable. (AP photo)
While food exports account for only a small percentage of Japan’s exports (Japan has very low food security, and has to import most of its food), Tokyo is concerned that the ban on Japanese food products may hurt foreign consumer confidence in Japan, which could have ripple effects that hurt other Japanese exports. Trade between the three countries accounts for 20 percent of Japan’s GDP.
Meanwhile, some right-wing idiots used the summit as an opportunity to protest the long-running territorial dispute over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands near Taiwan. One facet of Japan’s foreign policy is to gain sovereignty over all its surrounding islands, which gives Japan with more fishing waters, cushions Tokyo geographically from outside threats, and provides an excuse for military spending. However, a summit to persuade China to lift a ban on Japanese food exports is not the best time to protest the dispute. These right-wing nationalists, who have a disproportionate amount of influence, would have Japan take a more confrontational foreign policy toward China. These groups have historically been responsible for prodding Tokyo into invading China, a course of action that eventually led to war with the U.S.
