Japan should take China to the World Trade Organization over Beijing's decision to ban imports of Japanese fishery products following the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, a former senior U.N. official believes.
Japan could file a complaint with the WTO as a "tactical move" to induce China to end the punitive action Tokyo says is not based on scientific grounds, argues Kiyotaka Akasaka, a former undersecretary-general for communications and public information.
Akasaka also suggests Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and new Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa further address the safety of the water discharge from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in northeastern Japan during a series of U.N. General Assembly meetings this week in New York to broaden international understanding.