With the new measures on Japanese food imports to take effect in two weeks, Nobuo Kishi, a younger brother of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, arrived in Taiwan to voice Japan’s concern over the issue.
The new rules are to require labeling on Japanese foodstuffs that shows specific places of origin, as well as certification showing that the products have passed a radiation inspection.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said that communication between the two nations is unimpeded and it believes any issues would be resolved satisfactorily.
Kishi, who is also the head of a subgroup of the Japanese Diet’s House of Councillors aiming to boost economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations, led a group of Diet members who arrived in Taipei on Wednesday.
According to Japanese media, Kishi was asked by Abe to explain to the Taiwanese public that Japanese products are safe.
Lo Koon-tsan (羅坤燦), secretary-general of the Association of East Asian Relations, the group in charge of ties with Japan in the absence of diplomatic relations, said at the ministry’s weekly news conference that Kishi’s trip to Taiwan is a “routine visit,” and the government would exchange views with the delegation on the food regulations to be implemented.
However, the government so far has no plans to put off the implementation of the new measures, Lo said, adding that he was not clear whether Kishi would touch upon food regulation issues in a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Lo said that the food issues fall within the remit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and that MOFA would refer Japan’s concerns about the new regulations to it.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare says that food products imported from Japan would have to show their specific places of origin rather than just the country of origin, and some products, such as dairy products and tea from certain regions, would also require a radiation inspection certificate before going through customs checks.
The new measures are to take effect on May 15.
A source familiar with bilateral exchanges said that if Taiwan is to impose rigorous safety checks on food imports from Japan, it could easily lead to a “total embargo” of Japanese products from May 15 if the two countries fail to agree on the specifics, including the format of the attached certificates, required details on labels and specifics about customs checks.
A total embargo would not happen, Lo said.
Most food manufacturers would have no trouble presenting the correct documentation, but it is also possible that some food products would be detained temporarily for custom checks, he added.
Additional reporting by Chen Yu-hsuan
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS