Damage To Japan's Reputation Of Products Expands In China Due To Disposal Of Radioactive Waste From PLTN To The Ocean

The radioactive wastewater tank at PLTN Fukushima Japan. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - Damage to Japan's product reputation and services is feared to spread in China after the disposal of radioactive water processed from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant complex into the ocean.

Reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Wednesday, August 30, many trips to Japan were canceled, besides that there was an online boycott campaign targeting items such as cosmetics.

Chinese authorities do not appear to have done anything to stop online calls to boycott Japanese products against Japan's growing anti-Japan sentiment background due to the disposal of waste into the sea that began last week.

The Global Times, an affiliated tabloid with the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said several travel agents reported cancellations of travel to Japan, and several companies plan to reduce their promotions for the National Day holiday from late September.

The daily said the enthusiasm of Chinese tourists to travel to Japan during the holidays had decreased significantly, citing newlyweds replacing their honeymoon destinations to other countries after the water release began.

"Japan is not an irreplaceable tourist destination and its irresponsible actions are unacceptable," the couple, quoted daily, said though China said earlier this month it would continue its group tour to Japan after more than three years of pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

China still strongly rejects the release of Fukushima water, calls it 'nuclear contamination', and imposes a ban on total imports of marine products from its neighboring country.

Local media also reported concerns Chinese consumers over Japan's cosmetic security following the release of the water.

Beijing Business Today says many consumers are starting to return Japanese cosmetic items that have been purchased and uploaded on social media a list of brands to avoid.

The business daily said loyal Chinese SK-II users who had used the Japanese brand cosmetic product for seven to eight years were determined to find a replacement after the stock ran out for fear of releasing Fukushima water.